Sajal Ghosh's 'Op Sindoor' theme puja gets police notice

Kolkata Police has issued a stringent notice to the Santosh Mitra Square Sarbojanin Durgotsav committee, demanding strict compliance with crowd management and safety guidelines for the upcoming Durga Puja 2025. This comes after last year's celebrations reportedly saw severe public safety compromises, including a near-stampede situation due to non-adherence to rules. The puja committee, known for its grand themes and high footfall, has announced 'Operation Sindoor' as its theme this year, sparking further debate with BJP leader Sajal Ghosh, a key organizer, alleging discriminatory behavior from the police.

The Muchipara Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the puja falls, explicitly stated in its notice that "public safety was severely compromised" last year, leading to a specific case (No. 142 dated 15.10.2024, under Sections 221/223/324(6)/61(2) of the BNS) being registered. The police's counter-claim is that the current directives are solely in the interest of public safety and efficient crowd management, informed by the overwhelming crowds witnessed in previous years.

The detailed notice, addressed to the Secretary of Santosh Mitra Square Sarbojanin Durgotsav, outlines several critical points of non-compliance from 2024 and mandates stringent measures for 2025. It specifically addresses concerns about internal crowd movement, noting that slow flow due to poor channelization led to severe congestion last year. As a result, the committee is now required to create proper passages inside the pandal to facilitate smooth crowd movement and dispersal.

Furthermore, light and sound shows, laser displays, or any form of event (inside or outside the pandal) have been explicitly prohibited. Police observed that such displays significantly restricted crowd flow, posing a safety risk. Similarly, the presence of hawkers and stalls near exit gates, which created bottlenecks for outgoing crowds last year, will no longer be permitted. The notice also stipulates that the exit gate must be wider than the entry gate for better flow.

Additional instructions for improved safety and crowd control include mandatory directional and safety signage, increased CCTV camera deployment to a minimum of 60 units with real-time monitoring, and keeping the gate adjacent to the KMC building open for extra crowd movement. The police have also mandated adequate volunteer deployment – at least 250 during peak hours and 100 during off-peak hours – and strong barricading from the pandal to the Bank of India more.

BJP leader Sajal Ghosh, a prominent organizer of the Santosh Mitra Square puja, has voiced strong objections to the police directives, claiming "ban on setting up stalls, how many volunteers should be kept" as points of contention. He has also alleged "discriminatory" behavior by the Kolkata Police, noting that the police commissioner has not visited their puja pandal for the last two years, unlike other major pujas. The committee has been directed to submit a detailed mitigation plan addressing all these points and arrange a meeting with police authorities by June 25, 2025.