Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first rally this year at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district was a throwback to his July 16 rally at East Midnapore, where part of the marquee had collapsed because of an overeager crowd.
On Saturday, PM Modi was addressing members of the Matua community, a Scheduled Caste, at Thakurnagar when a mad rush to get to the front left 25 people , inlcuding five women, injurted. Fifteen minutes into his speech, people started throwing chairs into the high-security zone fronting the dais — termed the D-zone for its shape — to make more space for others. They also broke the barricade separating the women's area.
PM Modi exhorted the people not to try and push forward, but they did not pay heed, forcing him to cut short his speech.
Curtailing his speech to 20 minutes in all, the PM said he had to leave for another rally.
The pandemonium was such that the police had to pull women and children out of the crowd and into the D-zone, as many of them were gasping for breath.
The confusion continued for a time after the Prime Minister left, with the narrow lanes chock-a-block.
The district administration officials quickly rerouted the people through several lanes and bylanes, thinning the crowd.
Police sources said that as many as 25 people were injured, including five women. Three of them sustained serious injured and were admitted to Gaighata Block Hospital.
After PM Modi reached Durgapur for the second rally, he said that there was "a lot of love" at Thakurnagar, but said that there needed to be patience along with love.
"At Thakurnagar, during my speech, one could see the excitement of the people. The space on the field was packed to twice its capacity with people. Some sisters and children had trouble. My sympathies to them and I apologise for it," he said.
After last year's incident at East Midnapore had left 90 people injured, BJP workers had taken precautions to avoid a mishap. Since the venue was between Thakurnagar and Chandpara stations, the railway police and civic volunteers had ensured that no one occupies the railway tracks. Those crossing the tracks had been guided, and the point of crossing was roped off by volunteers.
The speed of trains passing the stretch had also been regulated.
