The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the vandalism incident at Kolkata's Salt Lake stadium has made significant headway, identifying several individuals who were present in the vicinity of football legend Lionel Messi on the field. The group includes VIPs as well as local individuals who allegedly gained access using VIP passes or are family members of stadium staff.
Key Persons Identified for Questioning
A source closely associated with the investigation revealed that many of these identified persons will be asked to record their official statements. They will be questioned specifically on how they managed to enter the restricted field area. "Everyone's role will be evaluated," the source emphasized. Critical evidence, including CCTV footage of each identified individual, was handed over to the SIT by the Bidhannagar Police on Wednesday.
SIT's On-Ground Inspection and Review
The high-powered, four-member SIT conducted a thorough inspection of the stadium on Wednesday. The team, comprising director (security) Peeyush Pandey, ADG (law and order) Jawed Shamim, ADG (south Bengal) Supratim Sarkar, and Barrackpore commissioner Murlidhar Sharma, arrived at the venue at 9:40 am.
They spent approximately 40 minutes assessing the site, with particular focus on the sections where the mob breached the iron fencing from the gallery to storm the field. The SIT members took detailed notes on the police personnel who were in charge of the galleries and also spoke to other ground staff present.
Following the inspection, the team proceeded to the office of Bidhannagar police commissioner Mukesh for a detailed meeting. The SIT also held extensive discussions with police officers who were on duty on the day of the incident and reviewed the statements already recorded.
Probe Intensifies on Multiple Fronts
The SIT has sharpened its investigation, concentrating on two primary cases. The first case involves the event's main organiser, Satadru Dutta, while the second pertains directly to the acts of vandalism by spectators, which has so far led to six arrests.
During a meeting with the Bidhannagar detective department, the SIT meticulously scrutinized the police deployment strategy and the chronological sequence of events that culminated in the chaos. A significant point of concern raised was the sale of water bottles and food inside the stadium at exorbitant prices, despite clear instructions prohibiting such sales. The SIT is now questioning why police officers allegedly failed to intervene when vendors were seen selling these items.
In a parallel development, a forensic team visited the stadium on Wednesday afternoon. They collected physical exhibits related to the vandalism from the site. A comprehensive 3D scan of the entire stadium was also conducted by the forensic experts to aid the investigation.
An officer from the Bidhannagar Police stated, "To reconstruct the sequence of events, videography was carried out across multiple sections of the ground. The team also seized several water bottles, fragments of broken glass, parts of damaged chairs, and pieces of fabric from sofas from areas where fire was lit."
Expansion and Next Steps
To fast-track the probe, the SIT is expected to be expanded with the induction of Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), and inspectors drawn from both the Bengal Police and the Kolkata Police. "Each member has been assigned a job. This is just the preliminary stage of the investigation, and we will not comment for now," said an SIT member.
Meanwhile, Bidhannagar Commissioner Mukesh, who along with DG Rajeev Kumar and others has been issued a show-cause notice over the stadium mismanagement, was scheduled to submit his reply to the inquiry committee at Nabanna later on Wednesday.
