Kolkata Puja stampede: Treasurer Sanib Raha arrested for misleading announcement that killed 19
Synopsis
Nineteen people died after a misleading microphone announcement at a Kolkata Durga Puja pandal on 17 October sparked a deadly stampede. Police have now arrested the event's own treasurer, Sanib Raha, for allegedly making that fatal call — and investigators are still determining whether he acted alone or on orders.
Key Takeaways
Sanib Raha , alias Sentu, treasurer of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja committee, was arrested from Nadia district on 22 October .
Raha is suspected of making a misleading microphone announcement warning of a structural collapse , triggering a stampede that killed 19 persons on the night of 17 October .
Investigators are questioning him on whether he acted independently or on someone else's instructions.
Two parallel probes are under way: a Kolkata Police SIT and a judicial panel headed by retired Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati .
The judicial panel must submit its report to the West Bengal government within three months .
Kolkata Police on Thursday, 22 October 2026, named Sanib Raha, alias Sentu, as the detained suspect behind the misleading microphone announcement that triggered the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja stampede in North Kolkata on 17 October, which claimed 19 lives. The arrest marks the first concrete breakthrough in a probe that has gripped West Bengal since the tragedy unfolded.
Who Was Arrested
Additional Commissioner (Crime) of Kolkata Police, Kunal Agarwal, confirmed that Sanib Raha served as the treasurer of the organising committee of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin community Durga Puja. Raha was apprehended from Nadia district in West Bengal earlier on Thursday and subsequently brought to the city police headquarters at Lalbazar in Central Kolkata for questioning.
What the Misleading Announcement Said
According to investigators, the pandal was already in a state of mounting chaos on the night of 17 October due to sudden rains. Crowds outside were pressing inward to shelter from the downpour, while those inside were reluctant to step out into the rain — creating a dangerous crush at the entry points. It was at this volatile moment that an announcement was made over the microphone, reportedly urging people to evacuate the pandal immediately, citing a fear of the structure collapsing.
The warning, which investigators say was misleading, sparked extreme panic among the devotees. Pilgrims rushed towards the exit gates simultaneously, resulting in the deadly stampede. 19 persons died in the crush, according to official accounts.
What Investigators Are Probing
Authorities are currently questioning Raha on two key issues: what prompted him to make the announcement, and whether he acted independently or on the instructions of another individual. The answers to these questions will determine the next legal steps in the case, Agarwal said.
This development comes as two parallel investigations are under way simultaneously. The first is a special investigation team (SIT) constituted by Kolkata Police, headed by an assistant commissioner-rank officer from the city police's detective department. The second is a judicial inquiry panel set up by the West Bengal state government, presided over by retired judge Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati.
Timeline and Parallel Probes
The judicial panel has been mandated to complete its investigation and submit a formal report to the state government within three months. The SIT probe is operating on a separate track without a publicly specified deadline. The dual-track inquiry structure suggests the state is treating both criminal accountability and systemic lapses as distinct but equally urgent concerns.
Notably, stampedes at large religious congregations have recurred at major Indian festivals over the years, raising persistent questions about crowd management protocols at community-organised events. The Chorbagan tragedy, which unfolded amid a combination of adverse weather and a contested public announcement, highlights the lethal potential of miscommunication in high-density crowd situations.
What Comes Next
With Raha in custody and questioning ongoing, investigators are expected to determine the chain of command behind the announcement. Depending on findings, further arrests cannot be ruled out. The judicial panel's three-month clock has already started, and its final report could inform both prosecutorial strategy and broader policy on community puja event safety.
Point of View
And produce systemic safeguards robust enough to prevent a repeat. The dual SIT-plus-judicial-panel structure is procedurally sound, but without a publicly fixed SIT deadline, the criminal track risks moving slower than public trust can afford.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in connection with the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede?
Sanib Raha, alias Sentu, the treasurer of the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja organising committee, was arrested on 22 October from Nadia district in West Bengal. He is suspected of making the misleading microphone announcement that triggered the stampede on 17 October, killing 19 people.
What did the misleading announcement say at the Chorbagan pandal?
The announcement asked devotees to evacuate the pandal immediately, citing a fear of the structure collapsing. It was made at a moment when the crowd was already volatile due to rain, causing a deadly rush towards the exit gates.
How many people died in the Kolkata Puja stampede?
A total of 19 persons died in the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja stampede in North Kolkata on the night of 17 October 2026.
What investigations are under way into the Kolkata stampede?
Two parallel probes are ongoing: a special investigation team (SIT) of Kolkata Police, led by an assistant commissioner-rank detective department officer, and a state government-constituted judicial panel headed by retired Justice Anindita Roy Saraswati. The judicial panel must report within three months.
What happens next in the Kolkata stampede case?
Investigators are questioning Sanib Raha to determine whether he made the announcement independently or on instructions. Further arrests are possible depending on findings. The judicial panel's report, due within three months, could shape both the prosecution and future crowd-safety policy at community events.
