New Delhi: Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal on Friday ruled out the possibility of overcrowding and singer KK being mobbed before his demise. The police also confirmed that the AC was working properly at Nazrul Manch on the day of the event. Goyal said the police are, however, introducing some measures to prevent overcrowding and provide emergency medical aid if needed.
According to a report by news agency PTI, “Overcrowding might be there to some extent, but there was no situation where people were short of space or sweating or having issues with (other) people," Goyal said.
He further said that KK reached Nazrul Manch at 6:22 pm and went on stage at 7:05 pm.
"At no point of time was he mobbed, we had sufficient police presence at the place," he said.
Goyal reaffirmed that enough police arrangement under the assistant commissioner was in place at Nazrul Manch even before the singer arrived there.
Negating the controversies regarding the number of people at the venue, Goyal said that the police have "clear video where you can see people are standing comfortably and dancing,” PTI reported.
As per the PTI report, Goyal categorically said, that there was no stampede-like situation at any point in time and that when viewed from different angles of video shoots of the programme, there was ample space for the crowd to comfortably watch the performance. He also denied any such complaints being raised from either organisers, artists, or the audience.
He also said that irrespective of that, the police are putting up some measures to deal with medical emergencies in the future.
"We request that henceforth a medical ambulance be kept with a doctor and hospital should be identified where people can be taken to in case of emergency," he said.
Goyal said that it should be ensured that tickets should not be distributed more than the seating capacity of a venue.
"We are putting a mechanism in place to ensure this process," he said, adding that organisers would be requested to put up screens outside the base where the excess crowd can view the programme.
Goyal also clarified that a small incident took place outside the venue about 150 metres away, but that was dealt with soon enough.
"There was a small argument between some people who were trying to get to the stage and that is when I think someone used this fire extinguisher," he said adding "They separated the people and the situation was brought under control almost immediately.”
Singer KK died of a heart attack after feeling unwell during his performance at Nazrul Manch in Kolkata on the night of May 31.