Messi Kolkata event row: Police step up security near organiser’s residence
Additional forces deployed outside Satadru Dutta’s house in Hooghly’s Rishra after stadium unrest and arrest over alleged mismanagement.
Kolkata, Dec 14 : Police on Sunday stepped up security outside the residence of event organiser Satadru Dutta in Hooghly district’s Rishra following chaos at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) during Lionel Messi’s Kolkata event.
Dutta, the prime organiser of the event, was arrested at the city airport on Saturday shortly after violence broke out at the stadium. Additional police personnel were deployed overnight outside his house to prevent any fresh protests by fans demanding refunds. A police picket has also been set up in the area.
Extra forces were also posted at the Rishra police station to ensure that the fallout from the incident does not spread to nearby localities, police said.
Chaos erupted at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday after spectators, who had paid high ticket prices, alleged gross mismanagement by the organisers and obstruction of views by VIP arrangements, leaving many unable to catch a glimpse of the football star.
As tempers flared, sections of the crowd resorted to vandalism, turning parts of the stadium into a flashpoint. Police intervened to control the situation and later arrested Dutta in connection with the incident. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee subsequently announced the formation of a high-level inquiry committee to probe the events leading to the unrest.
Dutta’s residence, located in the Bangur Park area of Rishra, remained shut on Sunday amid heightened security. Police vans were stationed outside the house as security was progressively reinforced through the morning.
Officials of the Chandannagar Police Commissionerate said they were on high alert to prevent any further law-and-order issues. “There is a possibility that aggrieved fans may gather outside the organiser’s residence to protest. Additional personnel have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident,” a senior police officer said.
Authorities said the situation in the area remains under control, with security arrangements continuing as a precaution.
