"Traffic blocked for Rubio, Not CM Suvendu", Kolkata Police debunks fake posts

Kolkata Police has officially debunked viral social media posts claiming that traffic was halted for 45 minutes to facilitate the convoy of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. According to official statements issued on Sunday morning, the traffic restrictions on Saturday were actually implemented for the security of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The police clarified that misleading videos had been circulating, falsely alleging that major routes like VIP Road and EM Bypass were blocked solely for the Chief Minister’s movement.

The social media outrage began on Saturday when netizens complained about being stuck during office hours on the road from PG Hospital to the airport. Some posts even alleged that ambulances were prevented from passing due to the VIP movement. Kolkata Police used their official Facebook page to tag these claims as "False Information," urging citizens not to share the misleading posts. They emphasized that the inconvenience was a result of high-level diplomatic security protocols rather than local ministerial travel.

In addition to the diplomatic visit, the police pointed out that ongoing Metro construction work at the Chingrighata intersection contributed significantly to the traffic regulation. The combination of these two factors—international security requirements and infrastructure development—was the actual cause of the congestion. Police officials requested the public to rely on verified sources before venting frustrations based on unconfirmed social media reports.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a brief visit to Kolkata on Saturday to visit Mother House before departing for high-level meetings in Delhi. The security measures required for such a high-profile international dignitary often involve temporary traffic suspensions on major thoroughfares. By clearing the air, the Kolkata Police aimed to neutralize the political controversy that had started brewing over the alleged misuse of power by the state administration.