Two clubs clash over Jagadhatri Puja immersion; Police lathi charge

Krishnanagar was thrown into chaos during the immersion of Jagadhatri Puja idols on Sunday evening, leading to a police lathi charge to control the situation. The disturbance took place at the Post Office intersection, a major point of the procession. Thousands of devotees had gathered to witness the immersion, and the crowd quickly grew uncontrollable, prompting police intervention. Officers were forced to use lathi charges to disperse the crowd, causing panic among the visitors, many of whom had traveled from distant places to participate in the festivities.

The unrest began when the idol of the Baghdanga Barowari Puja, along with those from other Barowari Pujas, was being transported to the Rajbari, a traditional part of the Jagadhatri Puja ritual. As per the customary procession, the idols are first taken to the Rajbari before being immersed in the Jalanghi River. However, when the procession reached the Post Office area, the crowd density intensified. This resulted in pushing and jostling as people struggled to get a better view. The situation quickly escalated as the pressure from the crowd caused nearby barricades to collapse, and the crowd began spilling into the streets.

The situation worsened when disputes broke out between the public and police over the damage to public property. Eyewitnesses reported that people, already in a heightened state of anxiety, began to push and shove in all directions. Many visitors were caught in the ensuing confusion, and the fear of further violence prompted a stampede-like reaction. Several people were seen running for safety as chaos spread throughout the area.

In an attempt to regain control, the police used loudspeakers to announce crowd management instructions and urged people to remain calm. Despite these efforts, the situation remained tense for some time, and the police were left with no option but to use lathi charges to prevent further escalation. The police managed to restore some order, though the damage to public property, including broken barricades and damaged infrastructure, raised concerns. No major injuries were reported, but the incident highlighted significant challenges in crowd control during large public events like the immersion of Jagadhatri Puja idols.