Chor Bagan Stampede
‘Not the time for politics’: TMC rebel Ritabrata as Kolkata stampede sparks blame game
Kolkata: Political parties traded blame over the Chor Bagan Durga Puja stampede that killed 19 people, even as Ritabrata Banerjee, the rebel Trinamool Congress leader who now heads the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, said this was not the time for politics.
Banerjee, who leads the breakaway "New TMC" bloc, said it was not the moment for accusations and counter-accusations, according to a report by Gallinews.
His comment came as the ruling BJP and the Trinamool Congress's official leadership clashed over who was responsible for Saturday's crush at the north Kolkata pandal.
The stampede took place around 7:40 pm on Saptami, when sudden rain sent crowds into the pandal's narrow approach and exit just as others tried to leave, police and witnesses said. Twenty-five people were injured. Police have not given a final cause, but preliminary findings point to heavy rain, congestion and an announcement that may have triggered panic.
The TMC attacks
Trinamool leaders went after the government and the pandal's backers. Former chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on X she was "deeply shocked and saddened" and prayed for the injured.
Her party's official handle asked where the police and emergency response were when people needed them. It also asked whether the BJP government had put spectacle over safety, as the same puja had been recognised in state awards.
Party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee pressed Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari over the committee's chief patron, Debdeep Adhikari, who the party says is the chief minister's nephew. "When will you put the culprit nephew in jail, Suvendu Babu?" he asked.
TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh said the tragedy reflected a failure of the administration and that the puja committee must take responsibility.
He also alleged that the earlier committee was forced out and replaced after the change of government, and posted a purported resignation letter in support.
The government's response
Adhikari condemned attempts to politicise the tragedy and said senior police and administration officials were working to help victims. He rejected claims that help was slow to arrive, saying victims he met in hospital told him police had helped arrange transport.
BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya said he did not want to indulge in politics over the tragedy. He said he had no knowledge of the committee issue and that the person named as the chief minister's nephew is a minor living in Purba Medinipur.
The state has announced a special investigation team, and Adhikari said he would ask the Calcutta High Court chief justice to help arrange a judge-led inquiry.
Police registered a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder at Girish Park police station. Seven people were arrested, including the committee's secretary and vice-president, and were remanded in police custody.
The government has announced Rs 25 lakh and a government job for the family of each person killed, and Rs 5 lakh for each of the injured.
Kolkata Police have cancelled all VIP passes for pandals and issued new crowd-control guidelines.
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