West Bengal opposition accuses BJP-linked puja committee after Kolkata stampede

A crowd crush at the Chor Bagan Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata prompted the arrest of seven people and a call for accountability from opposition legislators. The Mamata All India Trinamool Congress accused the Chore Bagan Sarbojanin Durgatsav Samity of having links to chief minister Suvendu Adhikari’s nephew, Debdeep Adhikari, and demanded the committee’s officials be taken into custody. Chief minister Adhikari responded by establishing a Special Investigation Team headed by a sitting Calcutta High Court judge to examine the incident.

Opposition spokesperson Kunal Ghosh condemned the administration’s handling of the event and alleged that BJP members on the committee were being shielded. BJP representatives rejected the allegations, questioning the relevance of any familial connections and noting that leaders from multiple parties have historically been involved in community pujas. National opposition figure Rahul Gandhi also called for a fair investigation and relief for the victims.