In a bizarre turn of events, Kolkata police have arrested three football enthusiasts from the Nabapally area for their alleged involvement in the vandalism of the iconic Salt Lake stadium. The arrests, made on Sunday night and Monday, hinged on a seemingly innocuous piece of evidence captured on CCTV: a flowering marigold plant being carried by a bike rider and his pillion.
The Unusual Evidence: A Rescued Plant
The chain of events began after the high-profile football match at the Salt Lake stadium on Saturday, which attracted thousands, including fans hoping to see Argentine legend Lionel Messi. In the aftermath, the stadium premises reportedly witnessed vandalism, including broken speakers, burnt sofas, ripped chairs, and damaged goalposts.
While scanning CCTV footage, police officers spotted a man on a motorcycle leaving the area with a marigold plant. This visual clue led them to Sanjay Das, an employee with an organised retail chain, in Sukantanagar's Nabapally on Sunday night.
According to Sanjay's father, Kanai Das, a local flower seller, his son was questioned about the plant. "Sanjay told him the truth. There was nothing to hide," Kanai said. He explained that while leaving the stadium, Sanjay and his friend saw a broken flower pot with the marigold plant lying on the ground. Fearing the crowd would trample it, Sanjay picked it up, brought it home on his bike, and re-potted it in a tub. The police subsequently seized the plant as evidence.
Shock in the Neighborhood and Court Mention
The arrest has sent shockwaves through the close-knit Nabapally community. Locals describe Sanjay as a peaceful football lover and a dedicated East Bengal supporter from a well-regarded family. Asim Das, a neighbour, expressed disbelief, stating he had known Sanjay for a long time and that he would never engage in violence.
The case took a further twist when the public prosecutor mentioned the flowering plant during the court proceedings on Monday. Following Sanjay's detention, police also took him to the residence of his friend, Abhijit Das, in the early hours of Monday. Both men, along with another friend named Basudev Das who visited the police station later, were arrested.
Families Cry Foul, Questioning Priorities
The families of the accused have vehemently protested the arrests, calling them disproportionate and misguided. Abhijit's wife, Nisha, highlighted the irony of the situation. She revealed that both Sanjay and Abhijit, ardent football fans, had used complimentary tickets to attend the match to see Messi.
"Simply carrying a plant is now being construed as a crime while those who broke speakers, set sofas on fire, ripped chairs, and vandalised goalposts are roaming free," Nisha contended. She questioned the police's focus on a rescued plant while the actual vandals remained at large.
Sanjay's father, Kanai Das, added context to his son's presence at the stadium, explaining that Sanjay tries to attend matches whenever possible, often with help from friends for tickets. On Saturday, they had initially gone to Sreebhumi Sporting Club upon hearing about Messi's possible visit but were instead given two complimentary tickets for the Salt Lake stadium.
The incident raises serious questions about investigation methods and the interpretation of evidence in the wake of large-scale public events. The Kolkata police are continuing their probe into the stadium vandalism case.
