Messi Event in Kolkata Marred by Vandalism: Three More Arrested

Three more people have been arrested in connection with the vandalism that erupted during the Lionel Messi football event at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, police said on Monday. The latest arrests were made in case No. 218/25, and the accused were identified as Basudev Das, Sanjay Das, and Abhijit Das. The arrests come after the earlier detention of Satadru Datta, the chief organiser of the event, who was sent to 14-day police custody on Sunday. Datta was taken into custody by Bidhannagar Police for alleged mismanagement during Messi’s brief appearance at the stadium, which triggered widespread unrest and led to acts of vandalism by frustrated spectators. According to the state counsel, during the hearing, it was learnt that the organiser and his team were responsible for crowd movement inside the stadium. “Team members moved around on the pitch in such a way that spectators could not see the World Cup-winning captain from the galleries. This led to frustration and subsequent vandalism," the counsel said. The counsel also emphasised that the organiser was responsible for ensuring smooth crowd management and proper visibility of the football star to paying spectators. During the hearing, Datta’s lawyer opposed the request for 14-day police custody, claiming that his client had been “victimised." However, the court remanded Datta to police custody following the hearing, an officer said. The court order sparked protests by BJP supporters outside the court, who waved slippers in anger as Datta was escorted in. The chaos at Salt Lake Stadium unfolded after Messi made a tightly ring-fenced appearance, his first at the venue since 2011, leaving a large section of the audience disappointed. Many spectators, who had travelled from different parts of the country and paid substantial sums for tickets, expressed their frustration when they were unable to catch a glimpse of the football star. The disorder quickly escalated into vandalism, causing damage to stadium property. Police have registered two separate cases in connection with the stadium unrest and are continuing the investigation. Swipe Left For Next Video Officers said they had prepared a list of people to be summoned, were reviewing CCTV footage, and planned to interrogate vendors who sold banned items, including bottled water and beverages, inside the stadium premises.