Kolkata Durga Puja stampede: SIT under sitting judge to probe tragedy, says CM

West Bengal Chief Minister CM Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said a Special Investigation Team SIT would be constituted soon to probe the stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in North Kolkata adding that the team would function under the leadership of a sitting judge subject to permission from the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice news agency ANI reportedThe stampede triggered by a massive rush of devotees at the Durga Puja pandal claimed 19 lives and left 25 people injured Adhikari said six people had been arrested in connection with the incident and that two of the injured remained in the intensive care unit ICUSpeaking to reporters the Chief Minister CM said the Chief Secretary would write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court seeking permission to constitute the SITldquoAn SIT Special Investigation Team is also being formed which will operate under the leadership of a sitting judge The Chief Secretary will write to the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court If permission is granted we will constitute the SIT as soon as possiblerdquo he saidKolkata stampede Six arrested two injured remain in ICUSpeaking about the arrests and the condition of those injured Adhikari said ldquoSix individuals have been arrested and are currently in police custody under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Of the 25 injured two remain in the ICU while the discharge process for the other 23 following medical treatment has already begunrdquoThe CM said the state government was closely monitoring the situation and coordinating the response to the tragedyldquoThe Governor visited the hospital as did the Union Home Minister I am personally monitoring the situation with the assistance of the Chief Secretary Commissioner of Police Home Secretary Director General of Police DGP and others The entire government is actively engaged We are not celebrating the holiday nor are we posting anything on social media We are not making statements to the press assigning blame to othersrdquo Adhikari saidEarlier on Sunday Union Home Minister Amit Shah West Bengal Governor RN Ravi and Adhikari visited the injured undergoing treatment at an Apollo hospital in KolkataKolkata Police arrest seven peopleMeanwhile Kolkata Police arrested seven people in connection with the stampede Those arrested include Raj Kumar Sewda alias Raja the secretary of the puja committee Santanu Dubey its vicepresident and Biplab Mukherjee alias Joy who was involved in constructing a bamboo structureThe other accused are Koushik Saha who was involved in crowd management and checking VIP passes Pintu Dey who was engaged in crowd management and Suman Chakraborty and Rajesh Pal who were working as private security inchargesPolice registered a suo motu case against the organisers and others under Sections 105 110 and 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Fourteen people were also detained for questioning according to the policeSection 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita BNSS 2023 was imposed in parts of Kolkata from October 18 to 20 to prevent possible disturbancesBengal government announces compensationAdhikari also outlined precautionary measures discussed at a meeting following the stampede particularly those concerning idol immersion and public safety along riverbanksldquoTodays meeting focused on precautionary measures for the immersion process at the riverbanks and the use of traditional nonmotorised boats Following the recent incident necessary precautions must be taken Everyone is engaged in the Puja festivities ensuring public safety is paramount All potential shortcomings have been reviewed Of the 19 deaths 18 were residents of West Bengal For each affected family a team comprising representatives from the civil administration the police and the local MLA will provide support and remain with the family until the cremation rites are completedrdquo he saidThe West Bengal government has announced compensation of Rs 25 lakh and a job for the family of each deceased person An investigation by the Special Task Force STF has also been initiated to establish accountabilityWith ANI inputs