6th accused arrested in Salt Lake Stadium vandalism as SIT continue investigation

Police have arrested another accused in the vandalism and unrest that erupted at Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi’s visit. The Bidhannagar South police detained a young man identified as Rupak Mandal, a resident of the Chingrighata area, after examining CCTV footage. With this arrest, the total number of accused taken into custody in connection with the violence has risen to six.

On Wednesday morning, a special investigation team of the state police arrived at Yuva Bharati Stadium and conducted a detailed inspection of the grounds. Four senior officers from the SIT surveyed key areas and later visited the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate for a brief meeting. Police sources said the investigation continues to examine how the situation escalated and who was responsible for triggering the unrest.

The violence broke out on Saturday when spectators, many of whom had purchased expensive tickets, alleged they were unable to see Messi and other star players clearly. The players remained on the field for about 20 minutes, during which a large crowd gathered around them, causing visibility issues for those in the stands. After the players departed, frustration turned into chaos, leading to torn billboards, broken chairs, and spectators breaching fencing and entering the field.

In addition to the arrests of five accused identified earlier, police have also detained Shatadru Dutt, the event’s main organiser. Following the incident, the chief minister formed a high-level inquiry committee headed by retired Justice Asim Kumar Roy, which recommended the formation of a special investigation team. The SIT, comprising senior officers including Piyush Pandey and Javed Shamim, is now leading the probe.