"Will Compensation Bring Back Lives?": Manoj Jha Slams Bengal Govt Over Chorbagan Stampede
RJD MP Manoj Jha questions if compensation can replace lost lives after the Chorbagan stampede in Kolkata claimed 19 lives.
In the wake of the devastating Chorbagan stampede in North Kolkata, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha has raised pointed questions regarding the West Bengal government's handling of the tragedy. The incident, which occurred at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal, resulted in the deaths of 19 people and left at least 25 others injured.
Questions Over Crowd Management
Speaking to ANI on Sunday, Manoj Jha questioned whether the established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for crowd management were actually implemented at the site. He expressed deep skepticism over the government's tendency to label such tragedies as mere accidents and offer financial payouts as a solution.
“There are SOPs for crowd management. Were they followed? Will classifying this as an accident and announcing compensation bring back the loved ones lost by those families?” Jha asked.
Criticism of Governance and "Statistics"
The RJD MP further criticized the broader system of governance, suggesting that human lives are often reduced to numbers in official reports. He lamented that deaths in such incidents frequently become nothing more than statistics, stating that he no longer holds high expectations from governments when it comes to genuine accountability.
Government Response and Compensation
Responding to the tragedy, West Bengal Cabinet Minister Umesh Rai admitted that the incident was a case of “mismanagement.” He confirmed that the state government has taken the following steps:
- SIT Probe: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to investigate the causes of the stampede.
- Ex-gratia Payments: The government has announced a payment of Rs 25 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased person.
- Employment: A government job will be provided to the next of kin of those who lost their lives.
- Medical Aid: Financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh has been announced for each injured person.
Security Tightened in Kolkata
To prevent further unrest and maintain law and order, the Kolkata Police have stepped up security measures. Police Commissioner Ajay Nand issued prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, effective from October 18 to October 20.
Restricted Zones and Regulations
The restrictions are specifically focused on sensitive areas under the Bowbazar Police Station, bounded by College Street, Central Avenue (CR Avenue), Colootola Street, and Eden Hospital Road. Under these orders:
- Unlawful assemblies of five or more people are prohibited.
- The carrying of lathis or any other lethal and dangerous weapons is banned.
- Any activity likely to disturb public tranquillity or cause a breach of peace is strictly forbidden in the designated zone.