Durga Puja Stampede: Owaisi Slams 'Failure of Governance', Demands Probe
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi demands a probe into the Kolkata Durga Puja pandal stampede that claimed 19 lives, calling it a failure of governance.
AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi has reacted strongly to the tragic Durga Puja pandal stampede in Kolkata, labeling the incident a clear "failure of governance." Speaking on Sunday, the political leader called for a thorough investigation to uncover the negligence that led to the death of 19 people during the festive celebrations.
A Tragic Turn During Festivities
The disaster unfolded on Saturday evening at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal. What was meant to be a spiritual gathering turned into a nightmare as a massive surge of devotees led to a fatal crush. While 19 lives were lost, several others were left injured in the chaos.
Owaisi emphasized that because Durga Puja is a major festival in West Bengal, the government should have been prepared for the inevitable crowds.
"People had gone to attend a religious festival with devotion, and a stampede occurred. We hope that the government there will find out the cause. Obviously, it is also a failure of governance. If they were unable to make adequate arrangements for it, then obviously there must have been some negligence which needs to be examined," Owaisi stated.
Legal Action and Arrests
The aftermath of the tragedy has seen swift legal movement. The Bankshal Court on Sunday remanded seven individuals to police custody for 10 days. While the police had requested a 14-day remand, the judge granted custody until October 28th.
Those taken into custody include key figures associated with the event's organization and management:
- Raj Kumar Sewda (alias Raja): Secretary of the puja committee.
- Santanu Dubey: Vice-president of the puja committee.
- Biplab Mukherjee (alias Joy): Involved in the construction of the bamboo structure.
- Koushik Saha: Responsible for crowd management and VIP pass verification.
- Pintu Dey: Engaged in crowd management.
- Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal: Private security in-charges.
However, the defense lawyer, MD Yashim Raheman, presented a different narrative, claiming that some of the accused were actually outsiders who had come to witness the Puja and had stepped in to help rescue people in distress during the crowding.
Government Response and Investigation
The police have registered a suo motu case under Sections 105, 110, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the organizers and other involved parties. Additionally, 14 people have been detained for questioning.
To maintain law and order and prevent further disturbances, Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, has been imposed in various parts of Kolkata from October 18 to 20.
Compensation and Accountability
In a bid to support the grieving families, the West Bengal government has announced a compensation package of Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the family of each deceased person. Meanwhile, the Special Task Force (STF) has launched a formal investigation to establish exactly who is accountable for the lapse in safety and crowd control.
On Sunday, the bodies of the victims were handed over to their respective family members for final rites.