Kolkata: A flowering plant in the hands of a biker and a pillion rider, spotted on CCTV footage, led the cops to arrest two spectators from Nabapally, Sukantanagar, for allegedly vandalising Salt Lake stadium on Saturday. Sanjay Das, an employee with an organised retail chain, was nabbed on Sunday night along with the marigold plant that he allegedly picked up from the stadium premises.
Police reached Sanjay's residence on Sunday night. They called him out and wanted to question him. One of the officers, who spotted the marigold plant, asked him about it. "Sanjay told him the truth. There was nothing to hide. While he and his friend were leaving the stadium, they saw a flower pot had broken and the marigold plant was lying on the ground. Sanjay thought the plant might die as the crowd would trample it. He picked it up, got on the bike, and came home," said Sanjay's father Kanai Das, who sells flowers and garlands in the Nabapally area.
At home, Sanjay re-potted the plant in a tub. "Cops took it away," Kanai said.
In court on Monday, the public prosecutor also mentioned the flowering plant.
On Monday, locals in the Nabapally area were shocked to hear about the arrest of three friends. "I have known Sanjay for a long time. He is a football lover and an East Bengal supporter. But he would never get into any kind of violence. The family, which has been staying here for a long time, has a very cordial relationship with the neighbours. We were shocked to hear about his arrest," said Asim Das, a local.
Cops took Sanjay to the residence of Abhijit Das — a few houses down. "It was around 1.45 am when cops reached our home. Both Sanjay and Abhijit are football lovers. They managed to get complimentary tickets and went to Salt Lake stadium to see Messi. There were thousands there. Simply carrying a plant is now being construed as a crime while those who broke speakers, set sofas on fire, ripped chairs, and vandalised goalposts are roaming free," said Abhijit's wife Nisha.
According to Sanjay's family, he tries to attend matches whenever he can. While he cannot afford expensive tickets, his friends help him out. "On Saturday, he heard that Messi might come to Sreebhumi Sporting Club. But at the club they were given two complimentary tickets, which they used to enter the stadium," Kanai Das said.
Their friend Basudev Das, who lives nearby, went to the police station on Monday. "He was also arrested," Nisha said.