Police in Bengal are examining social media posts linked to the Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede in north Kolkata, after Suvendu Adhikari warned of legal action against people accused of circulating misleading claims about the tragedy. The stampede killed 19 people and injured 25 others on Saturday evening, according to the supplied report.
Adhikari said police had been directed to register cases under non-bailable sections against people who liked, shared or endorsed what he described as false narratives about the incident. The report attributes the warning to him during a visit to victims, but does not independently establish his official position or the precise authority under which the directions were issued.
According to the report, one post under police scrutiny allegedly originated in Bangladesh before being circulated by social media users in Bengal. Adhikari said 135 people in the state had shared the content, including users in Cooch Behar district. He said those users would face action, arguing that the circulation of misleading information could affect law and order.
The Bengal Police Special Task Force has already arrested a man from Cooch Behar on allegations of spreading misinformation about the death toll. The arrest followed the circulation of claims that authorities considered misleading in the aftermath of the stampede. The supplied material does not provide details of the sections invoked in that case or identify the accused.
The disaster has also triggered questions about crowd management at the Durga Puja pandal and the circumstances that led to the sudden rush of visitors. Adhikari acknowledged that lapses had contributed to the deaths, saying, “So many lives were lost because of a few mistakes. It is extremely painful. I have no words.”
A Special Investigation Team has been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding the stampede. One issue concerns an announcement reportedly made before the incident and the absence of CCTV footage from the location where it was said to have occurred. Adhikari said the SIT would examine the matter and that authorities had received a large amount of footage.
“I have constituted an SIT, and it will look into the matter. I have received a lot of footage. Why should I disclose everything?” he said, according to the report. The statement indicates that video evidence is available to investigators, although the supplied material does not establish how much of it relates directly to the point where the announcement was reportedly made.
The case now involves two parallel official responses: investigation of the physical and administrative conditions that preceded the crowd surge, and action against online posts deemed misleading. The supplied report does not state when the SIT will submit its findings, identify the agencies responsible for crowd control at the pandal, or specify whether organisers or other officials have been formally questioned. These details remain subject to verification and the investigation’s next official update.
