A major security lapse overshadowed football icon Lionel Messi's visit to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium last Saturday, forcing police to request a delay in his arrival after an unauthorized crowd swarmed the field.
Police Request Denied Amid Crowd Chaos
The Bidhannagar Police had to urgently ask organizers to hold back Lionel Messi's entry into the Salt Lake stadium. This drastic step was taken because a large number of people had unexpectedly flooded the playing field, creating a potential security risk. According to the approved protocol, only 12 individuals, besides Messi's own security and managerial team, were permitted near the Argentine superstar.
An officer involved stated that prior approvals were strictly for this limited group. However, in a clear breach, this number ballooned to nearly 600 people even before Messi reached the venue. "How these people entered the field and how passes were issued without the knowledge of police are still being investigated," the officer revealed.
Inquiry Committee Springs Into Action
Following the incident, a high-level inquiry committee has been activated to investigate the serious security failure. The committee is headed by retired Calcutta High Court judge Ashim Kumar Ray and includes Chief Secretary Manoj Pant and Home Secretary Nandini Chakravorty.
The panel has already received replies to show-cause notices issued to three senior officials: DGP Rajeev Kumar, Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh, and Sports Department Principal Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha. The trio was given a 24-hour deadline to respond to the notices. Currently, no state government officer is willing to comment publicly on the ongoing investigation.
Ground Clearance Attempt Failed
In the critical moments before Messi's scheduled appearance, police requested a pause of a few more minutes. The intent was to clear the ground of the excess, unauthorized individuals to ensure a safe environment for the player. This request, however, was not allowed by the event organizers, leading to the situation where security protocols were compromised. The incident highlights significant coordination gaps between event management and law enforcement agencies during high-profile international visits.
