Bengal Governor orders inquiry into firing of starter gun at marathon run in Kolkata

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday (December 23, 2025) ordered an investigation into an incident involving the firing of the starting gun during the conclusion of a marathon run in the city on December 21, a senior official from Lok Bhavan said.

An investigation committee has been asked to consider the issue from many angles, the official said.

This order came following a report submitted by incumbent Adjutant Major Nikhil Kumar, which stated that the starting gun had been arranged by the organizers of the event.

According to the report, the official said the Governor followed all prescribed safety instructions when firing the weapon.

He also noted that small splinters or particle-like fragments were emitted from the starting gun when fired, but confirmed that it did not cause injuries to the Governor or anyone at the scene.

Mr. Bose ordered that all aspects of the incident be examined, including whether there was any deliberate breach of security, an attempt to sabotage the event or a “threat to his life”, the official said. PTI.

He said an investigation committee has been asked to consider the issue from many angles.

This order came following a report submitted by incumbent Adjutant Major Nikhil Kumar, which stated that the starting gun had been arranged by the organizers of the event.

According to the report, the official said the Governor followed all prescribed safety instructions when firing the weapon.

He also noted that small splinters or particle-like fragments were emitted from the starting gun when fired, but confirmed that it did not cause injuries to the Governor or anyone at the scene.

“No medical assistance was required and the event continued without disruption,” the report said.

The official said the Governor was adept at using such weapons and had ended the same incident without incident in the last two years.

“Such weapons only produce sound and smoke. The organizers did not give the briefing they should have given to the Governor. The question is whether any tests were conducted on the weapon this year. We are also trying to find out whether the weapon is defective or not,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Governorship rejected media reports that the gun was fired without taking precautions and stated that such claims were factually false.

The Aide-de-Camp report attributed the incident to a possible problem with the equipment rather than any breakdown in protocol or use, and said that weapons and ammunition should have been properly checked and test-fired by the organizers beforehand.

Mr. Bose’s security was increased following the incident, the official added.