Chorbagan stampede: SIT questions 13 people, seeks accounts of police personnel on duty

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) investigating the Chorbagan stampede has questioned 13 individuals, including police officers who were on duty during the incident. The panel, led by retired Calcutta High Court judge Anindita Roy Saraswati, held a meeting at Writers’ Building to review the investigation. Saraswati revealed that they questioned police personnel from Girish Park police station and also interviewed fire service personnel.

The team plans to summon eyewitnesses and local residents for further questioning. If necessary, they might also summon Sushanta Shibani Pal, the artist who designed the Chorbagan Sarbojonin Durga Puja pandal. The stampede resulted in the death of 19 people and left at least 25 others injured on October 17. The SIT, which includes Director General of the Special Task Force Javed Shamim, conducted a thorough examination of the site.

They collected evidence through photography, videography, forensic analysis, and 3D scanning. A reconstructed model of the incident was also created to study how the stampede occurred. The investigation is particularly focused on an announcement made prior to the stampede warning about the pandal's collapse. The panel is looking into who ordered the announcer to make this announcement and under what circumstances.

The state government has also formed a separate SIT comprising Kolkata police personnel to investigate the incident. Police discovered that approximately half of the CCTV cameras were malfunctioning at the time of the tragedy, including one near the exit gate. The retired judge-led team is examining various factors such as the lighting conditions inside the pandal, the availability of entry and exit routes, crowd-control measures, and any structural defects.

They are also investigating potential lapses by local police and the puja organizers. The team has visited the residences of injured victims to gather their statements. Kolkata Police have also questioned pandal designer Sushanta Shibani Pal and 12 other police personnel who were present at the venue during the stampede. Several other police officers have also been questioned. The SIT has been given three months to submit its final report.