Kolkata Puja Stampede: 7 Accused Remanded to Custody; CM Reviews Crowd Control
Seven people are in custody after a Durga Puja pandal stampede in Kolkata killed 19. CM reviews crowd control as an SIT probe is planned.
The investigation into the tragic Kolkata Puja stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, which claimed 19 lives, intensified on Sunday. The Bankshal Court has remanded seven arrested individuals to police custody for 10 days, until October 28, providing investigators more time to uncover the lapses that led to the disaster.
Key Arrests and Legal Battle
Among those remanded to custody are high-ranking members of the puja committee and those responsible for the site's infrastructure and security. The arrested individuals include:
- Raj Kumar Sewda (alias Raja): Secretary of the puja committee.
- Santanu Dubey: Vice-president of the 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 has presented a starkly different narrative. Defense lawyer MD Yashim Raheman argued in court that the accused were not organizers but outsiders who had come to enjoy the celebrations. He claimed that upon seeing the chaos and people in distress, these individuals stepped in to help with rescue efforts rather than being the cause of the mismanagement.
Government Response and SIT Formation
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be constituted to probe the incident. The Chief Secretary is expected to write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to seek permission for the SIT to operate under the leadership of a sitting judge.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the government is fully engaged in managing the crisis, stating, "We are not celebrating the holiday, nor are we posting anything on social media. We are not making statements to the press assigning blame to others."
In a show of solidarity and concern, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, West Bengal Governor RN Ravi, and CM Adhikari visited the injured patients currently receiving treatment at an Apollo hospital in Kolkata.
Tightening Crowd Control Measures
With the festive season still underway, the state government has moved quickly to prevent further tragedies. CM Adhikari visited central monitoring facilities, including the Traffic Control Room at Araksha Bhawan in Salt Lake and the Lalbazar Police Control Room. He reviewed live CCTV feeds used to track footfall, transit corridors, and crowd density near major pandals.
Special Security Deployment
To ensure absolute control over the remaining festivities, the state police have recalled nine experienced IPS officers to the Kolkata Police force. These officers, all of whom have extensive past experience in managing Durga Puja crowds, will serve on this special assignment until October 20.
This expert team is tasked with the strict enforcement of Lalbazar’s 11-point special guidelines, which focus on:
- Preventing overcrowding inside pandals, particularly during rain or peak surges.
- Ensuring adequate lighting across venues.
- Maintaining the strategic placement of barricades to regulate movement.
Legal Action
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. In addition to the seven remanded to custody, fourteen other individuals have been detained for questioning as the probe continues.