West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas formally submitted his resignation letter to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday, accepting moral responsibility for the large-scale disorder and vandalism that marred the much-publicized 'GOAT India' tour event featuring global football icon Lionel Messi at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
Thousands of spectators who had gathered in anticipation of witnessing the Argentine superstar were left infuriated when organizational deficiencies, including poorly positioned VIP enclosures that obstructed views for general ticket holders and inadequate crowd flow management, prevented most attendees from catching even a brief glimpse of Messi, leading to outbursts of frustration and destruction of stadium property.
Responding decisively to the public backlash and reports of mismanagement, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee promptly constituted a high-level inquiry committee comprising senior officials to conduct a detailed examination of all aspects of event planning, execution, and security arrangements that contributed to the unprecedented chaos at one of the continent's premier sporting venues.
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The principal organizer of the event, Satadru Datta, was placed under arrest on the very day of the incident as authorities moved swiftly to enforce accountability, signaling the government's firm stance against lapses that compromised public safety and tarnished the state's reputation for hosting international spectacles.
Furthermore, the Chief Secretary of West Bengal issued official show-cause notices to Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar and the Commissioner of Police for Bidhannagar, demanding comprehensive explanations regarding the evident shortcomings in policing and crowd control measures, as the administration seeks to identify systemic failures and implement corrective protocols for future high-profile gatherings.
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