Kolkata: Governor Outlines 5-Point Action Plan After Salt Lake Stadium Chaos, Seeks Accountability

Following the chaotic scenes at the Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi's visit, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has announced a 5-point action plan and demanded strict accountability for the mismanagement that marred the event. The Governor described the day as a "dark day" for Kolkata's sports culture and expressed shock at the lack of planning for the high-profile event.

The chaos unfolded on Saturday when thousands of fans, who had purchased tickets ranging from Rs 4,500 to Rs 10,000, protested after failing to get a clear glimpse of the Argentinian football icon. The situation escalated as fans broke chairs, threw bottles, and damaged structures inside the stadium. Police resorted to a baton charge and deployed the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to control the unruly crowd. The abrupt curtailment of the program also prevented several dignitaries, including Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, from participating as planned.

Governor Bose, who had foreseen the potential for chaos, conveyed the need for crowd management measures to the state government prior to the event. Expressing his disappointment, the Governor stated that the police had failed to implement the suggested steps.

In response to the incident, Governor Bose has issued a series of directives to the State Government, outlining a 5-point action plan. The key elements of the plan include:

1. Arrest of the event organizers: The Governor has directed the state government to immediately arrest the organizers of the event for mismanagement.
2. Refunds to ticket holders: Ensuring justice for the spectators, the Governor has ordered that money be refunded to everyone who purchased tickets for the event.
3. Levying charges for damages: The organizers will be charged for the damage caused to the stadium and other public property during the chaos.
4. Judicial enquiry: A judicial enquiry will be conducted into the entire matter to investigate the incident thoroughly, fix responsibility, and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has also announced the formation of a judicial committee headed by a retired judge of the Calcutta High Court to probe the mismanagement. The committee will include the state chief secretary, Manoj Pant, and the additional secretary to the state home and hill affairs department, Nandini Chakraborty.
5. Suspension of negligent police officers: The Governor has directed the suspension of police officers who failed to take necessary precautions to prevent the chaos. He also emphasized the need for a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure smooth conduct for such large gatherings in the future.

In addition to these directives, the Governor has also called for the Rapid Action Force (RAF) to remain prepared and for an insurance scheme to be introduced for spectators, with the premium to be paid by the sponsors and organizers.

Echoing the Governor's concern, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has apologized to Lionel Messi and all sports lovers for the unfortunate incident. She assured that the government is committed to taking strict action against those responsible for the mismanagement.

Following the chaos, police have detained the chief organizer of the event, Shatadru Datta. An FIR has been lodged, and authorities have assured that those responsible for the chaos will be punished. West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar confirmed that the organizer is giving written assurance to refund ticket prices to the disappointed spectators.

The incident has sparked widespread criticism and calls for accountability, with protesters raising slogans demanding the arrest of state Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and event organizer Shatadru Datta. As investigations continue, authorities are under pressure to ensure that such incidents do not recur and that Kolkata can continue to be a welcoming host for international sporting events.