Chaos Erupts at Messi Event in Kolkata, Singer Forced to Flee for Life: 'I Ran to Save Myself'
Image Source: Internet
A planned tribute to football icon Lionel Messi in Kolkata turned into a nightmare for London-based Indian singer Charles Antony. He recounts how he narrowly escaped a chaotic scene at the Salt Lake stadium, where a packed audience turned violent. Antony, who had flown in from London to perform at the event, described the situation as 'mobocracy' as angry fans clashed with each other. The singer, who had composed a special Spanish song to welcome Messi, never got the chance to perform it. As the celebrations descended into chaos, Antony witnessed objects being hurled from the galleries, including water bottles, food packets, stones, and metal objects. He was lucky to escape without injury and damage to his equipment. The situation escalated after VVIPs were escorted out of the stadium, and Antony was left to fend for himself. Despite being personally invited by the event organiser, Satadru Dutta, to perform at events in Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi, Antony felt vulnerable and threatened. With no assistance forthcoming, Antony grabbed his belongings and ran to a safe place. He later shifted to another hotel for safety, saying he had no time to look for anyone else. 'I ran to save my life,' he said. The incident led to the arrest of event organiser Satadru Dutta in connection with alleged lapses in crowd management. Antony stopped short of blaming the organiser alone, suggesting that others, possibly VVIPs, contributed to the chaos. The event, which drew widespread attention, had been planned to celebrate Messi's visit to Kolkata. However, it ended in disaster, with fans alleging they failed to catch a glimpse of their favourite star despite paying a hefty sum for tickets. Many fans were left disappointed, with some even crying. Antony clarified that he did not charge any fee for his performances, with organisers only covering his travel and accommodation. Despite the traumatic experience, he expressed sympathy for the fans who were left disappointed. The incident has raised questions about crowd management and the role of VVIPs in such events. An investigation into the matter is currently underway.
