A popular Durga Puja organising committee in Kolkata has received a letter from Kolkata Police allegedly after choosing ‘Operation Sindoor’ as the theme for this year’s festival.

Established in 1936, Kolkata’s Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja is 89 years old. The puja is a major attraction in Kolkata and is organised by the Santosh Mitra Square club. The puja organisers have received a letter from Muchipara Police Station where they have been asked to submit a detailed plan covering some directives, and to arrange a meeting with police officials by June 25.

The letter asked the club to “compliance and mitigation measures” and asked the organisers to follow directives in the interest of public safety, security, and efficient crowd management for the upcoming festival.

What the organisers have been told to ensure

These directives include maintaining a proper passage inside the pandal for crowd movement, banning all light and sound shows, laser displays, or similar events inside or outside the pandal, and prohibiting stalls and hawkers near the exit gate. The organisers have been instructed to ensure that the exit gate is wider than the entry gate.

Additional safety measures include displaying clear directional signage on way to the pandal, installing at least six CCTV cameras with recording capabilities and a monitoring screen at the Police Control Room, keeping the KMC-adjacent gate inside Santosh Mitra Square open, and deploying at least 250 volunteers during peak hours and 100 during off-peak hours.

Those allergic to the term ‘sindoor’ sending this notice: BJP Leader

The organisers have alleged that they are being ‘harassed’ over the theme ‘Operation Sindoor’ for this year’s Durga Puja. State BJP leader Sajal Ghosh, who is one of the organisers of the Santosh Mitra Square Sarbojonin Durgatsav, said on Wednesday that the Muchipara Police Station sent a two-page letter to the club’s secretary after they announced Operation Sindoor as this year’s puja theme.

“We did not put up any advertisement or any billboard regarding our theme (Operation Sindoor). It was only a post on Facebook on Sunday and we got a two-page letter on Monday. This is nothing but to create disturbance,”
Ghosh told PTI.

“It is very unfortunate. I don’t think any other big puja has got this notice. Those who have an allergy to the term ‘sindoor’ are the ones sending this notice,” the BJP leader further said.

Letter issued over serious public safety concerns: Police

However, the police have said that the letter has been issued due to serious public safety concerns based on last year’s experience. The letter mentions, “During last year’s celebrations, a massive influx of devotees gathered at the venue. Due to non-compliance with the issued guidelines, public safety was compromised. A near-stampede situation arose, endangering lives.”

The letter further mentions that a case had been registered under various sections including 221 (obstructing public servant), 223 (disobedience to order), 324 (6) (mischief), and 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy).

Protest demanding #JusticeforRGKar at Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja pandal

In 2024, the Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata became a site of protest, with visitors chanting slogans demanding justice for a junior doctor, who was a victim of rape and murder at RG Kar Hospital. The pandal, known for its elaborate themes, was decorated to resemble the Las Vegas Sphere. The protests occurred amidst a large influx of visitors, leading to congestion and requiring police intervention to manage the crowds.

Durga Puja organisers should cooperate with police for effective crowd management: TMC Leader

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Debangshu Bhattacharya have defended the police action, saying preventive measures are necessary to ensure public safety. “If the police feel there is a possibility of an incident and take preventive action, that too becomes political these days. We saw how people lost their lives at the Kumbh due to a lack of crowd management. We do not want a repetition of what happened during the Kumbh or the RCB celebration,” the TMC leader said.

He added, “After Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came to power, UNESCO recognised Durga Puja. Fortunately, there has been no major incident here despite large-scale celebrations. If the club is being called for a discussion to improve crowd management, it should cooperate instead of criticising.”