1 hour agoSocial
38LENS
9 SourcesKolkata, India
thebalanced.newsKolkata's 70-Foot Lionel Messi Statue to Be Removed Over Safety Concerns
A 70-foot statue of footballer Lionel Messi near Kolkata's Lake Town Clock Tower, unveiled in December 2025, has raised safety concerns after residents reported it swaying during moderate winds. Complaints led to a police report and an inspection by Public Works Department engineers, who found structural flaws and an unstable center of gravity. The statue, built without proper permissions, is now slated for removal to prevent potential accidents amid upcoming monsoon conditions.
Political Bias
16%79%5%
Sentiment
35%
AI Analysis
Political bias across 9 sources
● Left 16%● Center 79%● Right 5%
The articles present perspectives from local residents, government officials, and engineering authorities, highlighting safety concerns and administrative oversights. Some sources mention political figures linked to the statue's installation, reflecting scrutiny of governance and procedural lapses. Coverage balances public safety issues with political context without overt partisan framing.
Sentiment — Neutral (35/100)
The overall tone is cautious and concerned, focusing on safety risks and structural deficiencies. While some criticism of the statue's appearance is noted, the predominant sentiment centers on public safety and administrative responsibility, resulting in a generally serious and neutral coverage without sensationalism.
How 5 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.
| Source | Their headline | Bias | Sentiment |
|---|---|---|---|
| thetelegraph | 'Unsafe', Lake Town Messi statue faces red card, structure to be pulled down very soon: Govt official | Center | Neutral |
| english | Kolkata's 70-Foot Messi Statue Sway In High Winds On VIP Road, Locals Fear Collapse | Center | Neutral |
| indianexpress | Kolkata's 70-foot Lionel Messi statue 'swaying in wind', officials order its removal after locals complain | Center | Neutral |
| thetelegraph | Lake Town residents raise safety fears after 70-foot Lionel Messi statue sways in strong winds | Center | Negative |
| freepressjournal | VIDEO: Lionel Messi Statue In Kolkata On The Verge Of Collapse 6 Months After Installation Amid Strong Winds | Center | Neutral |
Coverage timeline
freepressjournal broke this story on 25 May, 10:49 am. Other outlets followed.
- 1freepressjournal25 May, 10:49 amVIDEO: Lionel Messi Statue In Kolkata On The Verge Of Collapse 6 Months After Installation Amid Strong Winds
- 2thetelegraph25 May, 01:04 pmLake Town residents raise safety fears after 70-foot Lionel Messi statue sways in strong winds
- 3indianexpress25 May, 01:46 pmKolkata's 70-foot Lionel Messi statue 'swaying in wind', officials order its removal after locals complain
- 4english25 May, 03:07 pmKolkata's 70-Foot Messi Statue Sway In High Winds On VIP Road, Locals Fear Collapse
- 5thetelegraph26 May, 03:22 am'Unsafe', Lake Town Messi statue faces red card, structure to be pulled down very soon: Govt official
Lens Score breakdown
38/100
Public interest0/100
Coverage gap100%
Story is receiving appropriate media attention relative to public interest.
Accountability flags
TBN's analysis identified the following accountability dimensions in this story.
- financial irregularity
This story involves alleged financial misconduct — unexplained transactions, procurement irregularities, or misuse of public/shareholder funds.
- public safety issue
This story involves a risk to public safety — infrastructure failure, regulatory lapse, hazardous conditions, or emergency mishandling.
Who's involved
Institutions and figures named across source coverage.
Government
Weather OfficeHigh Court Division BenchLake Town Police Station
Political
Former MLA Sujit Bose
Enforcement
Enforcement DirectoratePoliceLake Town Police Station
Judiciary
Chief Justice Sujoy PaulHigh Court Division Bench
Story context
- Category
- Social
- Location
- Kolkata, India
- Sources analysed
- 9
- Last analysed
- 26 May 2026
- Key entities
- Lionel MessiAssociation footballKolkataLake Town, KolkataArgentinaBig BenSocial mediaFIFA World CupSujit Bose (politician)IndiaDisabilityFiberglass
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