Kolkata Pandal Stampede: Seven Accused Remanded to 10-Day Police Custody
Bankshal Court remands 7 people to custody after a Durga Puja pandal stampede in Kolkata claimed 19 lives. Read the latest updates.
The Bankshal Court on Sunday remanded seven individuals arrested in connection with the devastating Kolkata Pandal stampede to police custody for 10 days. While the police had requested a 14-day remand to facilitate their investigation, the court granted custody until October 28.
The Tragedy at Chorbagan
The incident occurred on Saturday evening at a Durga Puja pandal in Chorbagan, where an overwhelming surge of devotees led to a fatal stampede. The tragedy claimed 19 lives and left numerous others injured. On Sunday, the bodies of the deceased were handed over to their grieving family members.
Who are the Accused?
The Kolkata Police have arrested seven people as part of their investigation into the disaster. The list of those in custody includes key organisers and personnel responsible for the event's infrastructure and security:
- 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: Private security in-charge.
- Rajesh Pal: Private security in-charge.
In addition to these arrests, the police have detained 14 other individuals for questioning. A suo motu case has been registered under Sections 105, 110, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against the organisers and other involved parties.
Defense Claims and Legal Battle
The defense lawyer, MD Yashim Raheman, presented a different narrative in court, claiming that some of the accused were merely outsiders who had come to witness the festivities. He argued that these individuals stepped in to help with rescue efforts after noticing the distress of the crowd, rather than contributing to the chaos.
Political Fallout and Demands for Justice
The tragedy has sparked intense political debate in West Bengal, with leaders calling for accountability and an end to political finger-pointing.
Calls for Impartial Inquiry
Congress leader Suman Roy Chowdhury has demanded an impartial inquiry and the immediate arrest of all Puja Committee portfolio holders within 72 hours. He alleged that there was a severe lack of police presence at the Chorbagan pandal, claiming that officers were preoccupied with escorting BJP leaders from Delhi instead of managing the crowd.
Pleas Against Politicisation
Conversely, West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee urged political factions to avoid a "blame game" while the city mourns the loss of young children and citizens. While acknowledging that a "political post-mortem" may happen later, he emphasized that the current priority should be the loss of precious lives.
National Reaction
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy described the stampede as "heartbreaking" and "very painful." He noted that the Prime Minister reacted immediately to provide assistance to the families of the injured and cautioned that extreme care must be taken when organizing large-scale public functions.
Precautionary Measures
To prevent further disturbances and maintain law and order, Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, has been imposed in various parts of Kolkata from October 18 to October 20.