News Desk: Kolkata Police have arrested Sanjib Raha, a member of the organising committee of the Chor Bagan Durga Puja pandal, in connection with the stampede that killed 19 people on October 17. Investigators suspect that an announcement over a loudspeaker claiming that the pandal was about to collapse triggered panic among visitors, leading to a deadly rush towards the exit.
Raha was arrested in Nadia on Thursday and brought to Kolkata. Another person, Kushal Majumdar, was detained for questioning on Friday over allegations that he had also made announcements during the incident. With these developments, the total number of arrests in the case has reached nine.
The stampede occurred on Saptami, the seventh day of Durga Puja, when heavy rain and a large crowd brought thousands of visitors to one of north Kolkata's popular pandals. Visitors were moving through a narrow passage as they attempted to enter and leave the venue.
According to police, the pandal featured a circular ramp measuring approximately five feet in width and seven feet in height, which visitors used to view the idol from different angles. The same ramp served as the route for leaving the structure, with no separate exit available.
Investigators believe that an announcement warning that the pandal was collapsing may have prompted visitors to run towards the exit. CCTV footage reportedly showed the accused making announcements and urging people to leave immediately. Police are examining the footage and other evidence to establish the sequence of events.
A six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Anindita Roy Saraswati, is investigating the incident. During an inspection, the team identified a narrow exit and inadequate lighting along the pathway as possible contributing factors. The SIT chief said the stampede occurred at the exit point rather than inside the pandal.
Police have also raised concerns about the emergency gate, which families of the victims and injured visitors alleged was locked. The route used by ordinary visitors was reportedly around seven feet wide, with air-conditioning units and food stalls further restricting movement.
A forensic team has examined the site, while investigators have used drone footage and are preparing a three-dimensional map to understand the layout and movement of the crowd.
All the accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections relating to culpable homicide not amounting to murder and attempt to commit culpable homicide.
The tragedy has also triggered a political controversy in West Bengal. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari described the incident as the result of human error and announced compensation for affected families. The government has also promised a job to one member of each bereaved family.
Opposition leaders have called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The SIT is continuing its probe to determine the precise sequence of events and establish responsibility for the tragedy.
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