Since BJP IT CELL is up in claiming "people died in Deshapriya Park in 2015 during Pujas" here is a fact-check. THE CLAIMS: A major fatal stampede occurred at Deshapriya Park in 2015 due to the 88-foot idol. THE VERDICT: FALSE / MISLEADING ❌ While the situation came incredibly close to a disaster and forced an unprecedented shutdown, no fatal stampede occurred. Furthermore, the police did not destroy the idol; they cordoned off the venue to the public while allowing religious rituals to continue. The Setup: In 2015, Deshapriya Park partnered with Star Cement to build the world’s tallest Durga idol, standing 88 feet tall, crafted out of fiberglass and cement by artist Mintu Pal. A massive teaser campaign ("Eto boro shotti?") generated immense public anticipation. On October 18, 2015 (Maha Shasthi), an estimated millions of people descended upon South Kolkata simultaneously to witness the marvel. 🚨 WAS THERE A STAMPEDE? No fatal or mass-casualty stampede took place. However, the density of the crowd created severe safety hazards: Panic and Suffocation: Several people fainted or suffered minor injuries inside the park due to overcrowding and claustrophobia. City Gridlock: Traffic across South Kolkata (Rashbehari Avenue, Gariahat, Hazra) completely collapsed. Transit Failure: The crowd pressure on the nearby Kalighat Metro Station was so intense that the underground transit system faced a near-disaster, forcing authorities to shut the station down temporarily. 👮 WHAT WERE THE POLICE ACTIONS? Recognizing that a catastrophic stampede was imminent if the crowds kept arriving, Kolkata Police took swift, drastic measures: Total Public Ban: On the night of Maha Shasthi, Kolkata Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purkayastha visited the site and announced a permanent ban on public viewing for the rest of the festival. The "Cover-Up": To prevent people from catching a glimpse of the 88-foot structure from the main roads, the police and organizers draped a massive tarpaulin sheet over the face and torso of the idol. Legal Actions: The police registered an FIR (First Information Report) against the Deshapriya Park Puja Committee for violating safety norms, constructing a structure beyond permissible height limits, and creating a public hazard without adequate crowd-control infrastructure. Rituals Allowed: The police did not stop the festival entirely. The priest and committee members were permitted to perform the core religious rituals (pujas) privately behind closed gates. The 88-foot Durga idol did not cause a fatal stampede, but the threat of one prompted the Kolkata Police to completely shut down the venue and shroud the idol to save the city from a major disaster. #FactCheck #DeshapriyaPark #KolkataPolice