In a major breakthrough following the tragic October 17 stampede at the Chorbagan Durga Puja pandal, Kolkata Police have detained Sanjeev Raha, alias Sentu, the treasurer of the organizing committee whose panicked public announcement allegedly triggered the fatal rush. According to senior police officials, Raha had been absconding immediately after the incident occurred but was tracked down and picked up from Nadia district on Thursday following an intensive search operation. Investigators managed to locate his whereabouts after analyzing a series of burner mobile numbers he used to secretly communicate with close friends and family members during his time in hiding. Following his apprehension, he is being transported directly to the police headquarters at Lalbazar for detailed interrogation regarding the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Official police sources and preliminary CCTV footage reviews indicate that the chaotic situation rapidly spiraled out of control when an urgent voice broadcasted over the public address system claiming that the pandal structure was actively collapsing and instructing all visitors to evacuate the premises immediately. Eyewitness accounts confirmed that instead of facilitating an orderly and safe dispersal of the massive crowd, the alarming message generated sudden, widespread panic among thousands of devotees gathered inside the venue. Investigators noted that the microphone control desk and public address setup were positioned inside an exclusive seating enclosure reserved for club members and special guests situated along the main exit pathway. As Kolkata Police proceed with their investigation, they aim to determine whether the alarming announcement was a tragic misassessment of structural stability or negligence, while evaluating overall safety protocols and emergency management practices enforced at major festival gatherings across the city.
