Kolkata police issues notice flagging safety concerns, puja panel says ‘targeting us’

It also mentions that a case had been registered under various sections of the BNS including 221 (obstructing public servant), 223 (disobedience to order), 324 (6) (mischief), and 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy).

The organising committee, however, has alleged that the Kolkata Police are “targeting and harassing” them over their puja theme this year, which is Operation Sindoor.

BJP leader Sajal Ghosh, one of the members of the Puja organising team, claimed, “We did not put up any advertisement or billboard regarding our theme. It was only a Facebook post on Sunday and we received a two-page letter on Monday. This is nothing but a disturbance.”

He also questioned whether other puja organisers in West Bengal had received similar notices, suggesting that Santosh Mitra Square was being singled out. “It is unfortunate. I don’t think any other big puja has such a notice…,” he said.

In a statement issued on Friday, the police said that “certain statements and narratives circulating in the public domain regarding one puja committee under the jurisdiction of Muchipara Police Station are factually incorrect and misleading.”

“For the sake of clarity, the following facts are placed on record: the Officer-in-Charge, Muchipara Police Station, issued a letter on 14.05.2025, highlighting essential safety requirements in anticipation of the large crowd expected during Durga Puja. Notably, this communication was made well before the Puja theme was even announced. A follow-up letter dated 17.06.2025 reiterated the need for strict compliance with crowd management protocols, including CCTV installation, proper barricading, and emergency access measures.The president of the puja committee responded on 18.06.2025, acknowledging the concerns raised and expressing full willingness to cooperate with the police,” read a post by DC Central.

“The police remain firmly committed to ensuring the safety and security of all visitors, and to maintaining public order. Efforts to create confusion or misrepresent facts only undermine the spirit of cooperation necessary for a smooth and successful celebration @KolkataPolice. The puja committee president responded on 18.06.2025, acknowledging the concerns raised and expressing full willingness to cooperate with the police,” the post further read.

The puja organisers have been asked to submit a detailed mitigation plan covering some directives, and to arrange a meeting with police officials by June 25.

These directives include maintaining a proper passage inside the pandal for crowd movement, banning all light and sound shows, laser displays, or similar events inside or outside the pandal, and prohibiting stalls and hawkers near the exit gate. The exit gate must also be wider than the entry gate.

Additional safety measures include displaying clear directional signage from BOI More to the pandal, installing a minimum of six CCTV cameras with recording capabilities and a monitoring screen at the Police Control Room, keeping the KMC-adjacent gate inside Santosh Mitra Square open, and deploying at least 250 volunteers during peak hours and 100 during off-peak hours.

Trinamool Congress leader Debangshu Bhattacharya, who defended the police action, stressed on the importance of preventive measures to ensure public safety. “If the police feel there is a possibility of an incident and take preventive action, that too becomes political these days. We saw how people lost their lives at the Kumbh due to a lack of crowd management. We do not want a repeat of what happened during the Kumbh or the RCB celebration,” Bhattacharya said.

“After Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came to power, UNESCO recognised Durga Puja. Fortunately, there has been no major incident here despite large-scale celebrations. If the club is being called for a discussion to improve crowd management, it should cooperate instead of criticising,” he added.