Now Reading: Adhikari orders non-bailable cases for sharing ‘fake Bangladesh posts’ on stampede
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Adhikari orders non-bailable cases for sharing ‘fake Bangladesh posts’ on stampede
Adhikari orders non-bailable cases for sharing ‘fake Bangladesh posts’ on stampede
The Story in Brief
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, alleged that ‘fake narratives’ about the Kolkata Durga Puja stampede were being posted from Bangladesh and ordered cases under non-bailable sections against those who liked or shared such posts. He said the content was shared by 135 people in the state, including users in Cooch Behar, and warned of strict action.
The stampede at the Chorbagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in north Kolkata on Saturday, 17 October 2026, killed 19 people and injured 25. Police arrested Ainul Haque, a Cooch Behar resident, for allegedly claiming 60 died. Adhikari said an SIT is investigating and he will not interfere.
On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, Adhikari accused opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress and CPI(M), of politicising the tragedy, and handed Rs 25 lakh compensation to a victim's family. He said he would visit all victims' residences by 24 October.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Coverage splits along government-versus-opposition lines. ThePrint and Mid-day lead with Adhikari's Bangladesh allegation and the arrest, presenting his account without challenge beyond noting his refusal to disclose footage. Economic Times adds the opposition rebuttal, quoting TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee questioning why BJP leaders on the pandal committee were not arrested. What each side omits: the government's version stresses external misinformation and swift action, while opposition criticism foregrounds police inaction and planning failures, which Adhikari dismisses as politicisation. Neither frame dwells on the SIT investigation's scope or the absence of CCTV footage. The concrete point to watch is Adhikari's promised visits to all victims' families by 24 October.
The coverage is uniform straight reporting from PTI, carrying Adhikari's allegations and the arrest without independent verification. The new element on 21 October is the compensation and the opposition rebuttal attributed to Abhishek Banerjee, which no other source reports.
Coverage: 3 sources, 1 pro-government, 2 neutral
Sources (3): theprint.in (pro government), mid-day.com (neutral report), economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Update, 21 October 2026: this story now draws on 3 sources.
