The Kolkata stampede investigation has widened beyond the deaths and injuries at a north Kolkata Durga Puja pandal, with Suvendu Adhikari warning that 135 social media users in Bengal could face cases for sharing what authorities describe as misleading posts about the tragedy.
The stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal on Saturday evening killed 19 people and injured 25 others. During a visit to victims, Adhikari said he had directed the police to register cases under non-bailable sections against people who liked, shared or endorsed posts containing what he called false narratives about the incident.
“Some fake narratives were being posted from Bangladesh. I have ordered that cases under non-bailable sections must be registered against those who liked and shared such posts,” Adhikari said, according to the report. He alleged that one post had originated in Bangladesh before being circulated among social media users in Bengal, including in Cooch Behar district.
Adhikari said 135 people in the state had shared the post and warned that action would be taken against them. “All of them will be booked. We will take strict action against anyone trying to disrupt law and order here,” he said.
The warning followed the arrest of a man from Cooch Behar by the Special Task Force of Bengal Police. He has been accused of spreading misinformation about the death toll in the stampede. The arrest came amid concerns that misleading claims about the tragedy were circulating online.
The official response is unfolding alongside a separate investigation into what caused the crowd surge at the pandal. Questions have been raised about crowd management and the circumstances that led to the sudden rush of visitors. The incident has also drawn attention to a reported announcement made before the stampede and to the availability of video evidence from the location.
Asked about the absence of closed-circuit television footage from the area where the announcement was reportedly made, Adhikari said the matter would be examined by the special investigation team constituted to investigate the tragedy. He said authorities had received substantial footage but declined to disclose it while the investigation was under way.
“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.
Adhikari also acknowledged that lapses had contributed to the loss of life. “So many lives were lost because of a few mistakes. It is extremely painful. I have no words,” he said.
The SIT is expected to examine the reported announcement, crowd-control arrangements and the video material available to the authorities. The police investigation into alleged misinformation and the inquiry into the stampede will proceed alongside each other.
