SUVENDU ADHIKARI ORDERS RELIGIOUS SCREENING FOR DURGA IDOL IMMERSION, TIGHTENS SECURITY AFTER CHOREBAGAN TRAGEDY
October 21, 2026
KOLKATA, OCTOBER 21: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that only followers of Sanatan Dharma will be permitted to touch Durga idols during immersion in Kolkata, saying the decision is intended to preserve religious traditions and is not communal in nature.
Adhikari made the announcement on Wednesday while reviewing immersion preparations at Babughat, accompanied by Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Kumar Nand and municipal commissioner Smita Pandey. He said he had instructed the police commissioner to identify those who would participate in carrying the idols into the Hooghly river.
The chief minister defended the measure by stressing the religious significance of the immersion rituals. He said established traditions, scriptures and practices followed over thousands of years should guide the process, arguing that Durga Puja, beyond its character as a festival, was fundamentally a religious observance.
The administration has also modified aspects of the immersion arrangements following complaints. According to Adhikari, trolleys have been arranged in place of cranes to assist with the movement of idols. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been included in the preparations to help prevent accidents, while the police, disaster management authorities and municipal corporation may seek assistance from other agencies, including the Port Trust, if required.
The chief minister said the water would be cleaned after the immersion process concludes on October 24.
Adhikari also expressed concern about the safety of spectators expected to travel in country boats to watch idol immersions in the Ichamati river at Taki, in North 24-Parganas district. At least 200 country boats were expected to carry spectators, despite the administration’s efforts to discourage the practice.
He said local sentiments had to be considered while making arrangements, adding that precautions included the provision of life jackets and measures to balance the boats’ loads. Nevertheless, he acknowledged continuing concerns because many of the vessels were small traditional country boats. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been brought in to assist with arrangements at Taki, while a cabinet minister and the deputy inspector general of police for the Barasat range have also been assigned responsibilities.
After reviewing preparations at Babughat, Adhikari travelled by boat to inspect immersion arrangements at ghats on the Howrah side of the Hooghly.
The heightened security measures follow the deadly stampede at the Chorebagan Durga Puja pandal on Mahasaptami evening, which claimed 19 lives. The tragedy has prompted intensified scrutiny of crowd management and safety arrangements during the festival.
A total of 18 IPS officers have been assigned to supervise idol immersions across Kolkata and three neighbouring police commissionerates until October 24, according to a senior official.
With the immersion period approaching its conclusion, the administration is attempting to strengthen operational preparedness while addressing religious sensitivities and public safety concerns. The chief minister’s announcement on who may handle Durga idols has added a significant religious dimension to the arrangements, alongside the broader focus on preventing further accidents after the Chorebagan tragedy.
