The Kolkata Durga Puja stampede that killed 19 people and injured 25 has triggered arrests, a Special Task Force investigation and restrictions on public gatherings in parts of the city. Seven people have been arrested in connection with the incident at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata, according to a report by ANI published by Deccan Chronicle.
The stampede occurred amid heavy crowds at the pandal. The injured were shifted to hospitals for treatment, while authorities began investigating the circumstances that led to the deaths and injuries. The investigation is intended to establish responsibility for crowd management, security arrangements and the construction of temporary structures at the venue.
The arrested persons include Raj Kumar Sewda, also known as Raja, the secretary of the puja committee; Santanu Dubey, its vice-president; and Biplab Mukherjee, also known as Joy, who was involved in constructing a bamboo structure. Koushik Saha, who was involved in crowd management and checking VIP passes, and Pintu Dey, who was engaged in crowd management, were also arrested.
The remaining arrested persons were identified as Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal, who were working as private security in-charges. Kolkata Police registered a suo motu case under Sections 105, 110 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the organisers and others. Fourteen additional people were detained for questioning, according to the police.
The West Bengal government has announced compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a job for the family of each deceased person. A Special Task Force investigation has also been initiated to establish accountability for the incident.
Restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, were imposed in parts of Kolkata from October 18 to 20. The order covers an area under Bowbazar Police Station bounded by College Street, CR Avenue, Collotola Street and Eden Hospital Road. It prohibits unlawful assemblies of five or more people, carrying weapons and activities considered likely to disturb public peace and tranquillity.
Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao expressed condolences to the victims and called for a thorough investigation. Speaking to ANI, Rao said the incident was a major tragedy and that responsibility should be fixed against those found accountable. He also said the administration was concerned about the incident and that appropriate action should follow the inquiry.
The investigation and police case will determine how the crowd-management arrangements, private security deployment, VIP-pass checking and bamboo construction at the pandal contributed to the incident. Authorities have not yet announced a final account of the sequence of events that caused the stampede. The Special Task Force inquiry and the police proceedings are expected to establish those details.
