Two more arrested, taking total to nine in Kolkata Chorbagan Durga Puja stampede

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Kolkata: Kolkata Police on Friday arrested two more persons in connection with the deadly stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata, West Bengal that left 19 people dead. The new arrests have raised the number of persons arrested in connection with the incident to nine.

The incident happened on October 17 when the devotees were trapped in a crowd in the rain when panic-stricken devotees of the popular Durga Pandal.

The police are probing alleged lapses in crowd management as well as a deceptive notification that is said to have led to the tragedy.

The pair of the most recent accused named are Sanjib Raha, who is also known as Sentu, and Kushal Majumdar. Raha, treasurer of the puja organising committee, was picked up in Nadia district on Thursday and taken into custody. Majumdar was picked up in Kolkata’s Girish Park neighbourhood on Friday.

Preliminary reports have said that the stampede occurred when there was a gathering in the pandal in the rain. When the announcement was made that the pandal is going to collapse, people are said to have rushed out which led to gridlock in the already crowd-o-sphere.

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Officers are analysing CCTV footage, interviewing the suspects and looking into whether the announcement was made on someone’s instructions.

Investigators are also examining crowd-control logistics, ingress and egress planning, security presence and other potential safety failures that may have led to the deaths.

A Special Investigation Team has been formed to ascertain the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident and suggest remedial actions to avoid any such future disaster.

The state government also has announced financial help to the kin of victims and the injured.

With nine arrests now having been made, the Police are still investigating as to which individuals may be responsible and whether any further action is necessary.

Also Read: West Bengal: 7 arrested, 14 detained after Kolkata pandal stampede kills 19

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