Police in Kolkata have arrested a man from Cooch Behar for allegedly spreading false information about the number of deaths in the Chorbagan Sarbojanin incident, while investigators examine whether an announcement about a collapsing pandal triggered panic among visitors. The police said 19 people died in the incident, rejecting social media claims that the toll was 60.
The arrested man was identified as Ainul Haque, a resident of Cooch Behar. According to the police, he was apprehended by the Special Task Force. The authorities said investigators were contacting the families of those who died and examining CCTV footage from the pandal to establish what happened and identify those responsible for spreading the alleged rumour.
The case has raised immediate concerns about how unverified messages and public announcements can affect crowd movement at large religious and cultural gatherings. The police are investigating reports that someone used a microphone to announce that the pandal was collapsing. The announcement was allegedly heard by visitors and was followed by a disorderly situation, although the police said they did not find signs that the pandal itself had collapsed or shown evidence of structural failure.
The exact sequence between the reported announcement, the crowd disturbance and the deaths remains under investigation. Police have not yet identified the person or persons who allegedly made the announcement. Officials said CCTV footage and other available evidence were being examined as part of the inquiry.
The Chorbagan incident has also led to wider administrative action. A high-level meeting was held at Bhawani Bhavan after the incident, and seven people, including organisers, were arrested, according to the report. A special investigation team was formed to investigate the incident. Police said strict action would be taken against those found responsible.
The administration has separately brought back seven Indian Police Service officers serving in other branches to oversee festival duties. The officers were selected because of their experience in managing crowds during the festive season, with the stated aim of preventing a repeat of the disorder reported at Chorbagan.
Visitor access has not yet resumed at several pandals, the report said. The decision to keep some venues closed indicates that crowd control and public safety arrangements remain under review while the investigation continues. Authorities are expected to determine who made the alleged announcement, whether it contributed to the panic and what role the arrested individuals and organisers played in the incident.
