The West Bengal government on Tuesday issued a show cause notice to Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar over the security and crowd management lapses during Lionel Messi’s GOAT India tour event at Salt Lake Stadium last Saturday.
Kumar has been given 24-hours to reply to the notice.
A special investigation team comprising Director (Security) Peeyush Pandey, ADG (law and order) Jawed Shamim, ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar and Barrackpore police chief Muralidhar has been formed to probe the reasons behind the chaos.
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The SIT was formed on the recommendation of the three-member inquiry committee announced by chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The SIT will probe into the vandalism and the issue of ticket refunds.
“Why has the CM not suspended the DGP and the Bidhannagar CP?” asked Suvendu.
The state Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar asked why the cops were being sacrificed to protect ministers.
“The state government is using the inquiry committee as a shield to save its face. Had the police force not succumbed to political pressure such a situation would not have happened,” said Sarkar.
The Bidhannagar Police’s deputy commissioner of police Aneesh Sarkar, has been suspended for “reported negligence in his duties and responsibilities.” Sarkar will remain suspended till the special investigation team completes its probe.
A statement issued by the office of the chief secretary Manoj Pant stated, Kumar will have to explain “why such management and lapses happened in the stadium” on 13 December, when Messi arrived to participate in an event and left within 20 minutes.
“Why proper coordination with concerned stakeholders, including the private organiser, was not carried out so as to ensure smooth conduct of the event?” the state has asked the DGP.
The Bidhannagar police chief Mukesh Kumar has to explain the role and conduct of the Bidhannagar Commissionerate in the management of the event at the Salt Lake stadium.
The state secretary for youth affairs and sports, Rajesh Kumar Sinha has also been show-caused, while Deb Kumar Nandan the stadium’s CEO has been sacked with “immediate effect”.
The three-member inquiry team had submitted its report on Monday night to the state government.
“It is highly unusual that water bottle stalls were set up inside the stadium. This deviation from established norms needs to be examined closely,” Justice (Retd.) Ray said in a news conference earlier on Tuesday. “The question of whether spectators should be refunded their ticket money must be considered, given the disruption and damage caused.”
The main organiser Satadru Dutta has been arrested and his colleagues have been summoned for questioning. At least five persons have been arrested in connection with the vandalism.