Kolkata stampede: 7 accused sent to 10-day police custody; govt may scrap VIP gates at pandals

Police on Sunday produced seven people arrested in connection with the stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata, which claimed 19 lives and left 25 others injured, before a local court and sought their custody for further investigation.

The arrested persons, including the puja organising committee's secretary, vice-president and two employees of a private security agency, were taken to the Bankshall court.

"The arrested persons have been taken to Bankshall court. We would appeal for their custody," a senior police official told PTI.

The arrests followed Saturday evening's tragedy, when a sudden crowd surge amid rainfall triggered a stampede at the popular Durga Puja pandal.

𝗖𝘂𝗹𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱

Police have registered a suo motu case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the incident.

Investigators are examining the circumstances that led to the crowd surge and whether lapses in arrangements for regulating visitors contributed to the fatalities.

The role of the organising committee and personnel responsible for security arrangements is also under scrutiny as police seek to establish the sequence of events.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening when large numbers of visitors had gathered at the pandal for Durga Puja celebrations. Rainfall coincided with a sudden movement of people, resulting in a crush that left 19 dead and 25 injured.

𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿

The investigation is expected to focus on crowd management arrangements, the responsibilities assigned to organisers and private security personnel, and the measures taken to prevent overcrowding.

Police are seeking custody of the seven accused to question them about the arrangements in place at the pandal when the stampede occurred.

The tragedy has cast a shadow over Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata, with the deaths raising concerns about safety arrangements at heavily attended festival venues.

Further proceedings in the case will depend on the court's decision on the police request for custody.