Kolkata, 06 October (H.S.) :

Voting for the high-stakes assembly by-elections in West Bengal’s politically sensitive Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies commenced amid tight security on Tuesday morning, but was quickly overshadowed by political clashes, high-profile arrests, and sharp allegations against the police administration.

In Rejinagar, police arrested Aam Janatha Unnayan Party chief and sitting Nowda legislator Humayun Kabir on charges of violating the Model Code of Conduct and obstructing public servants from executing their duties. Kabir had arrived at a polling center early in the morning and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of engineering booth-level disruptions and vote rigging. Following a heated argument and physical scuffle with security personnel outside the premises, Kabir was detained. Beldanga Sub-Divisional Police Officer Anandajit Hor subsequently confirmed that the Rejinagar police had formally placed Kabir under arrest.

Further allegations of administrative bias surfaced in Rejinagar, where the Left Front and the Congress claimed that police prevented their polling agents from entering booths 112, 113, 114, and 122 in Moradighi, as well as booths 99 and 100 under Kashipur Gram Panchayat. In another instance at Mirzapur Khagrupada Primary School, journalists holding valid passes issued by the Election Commission of India were allegedly barred by the police from reporting at booths 85 and 86.

Meanwhile, in East Midnapore’s Nandigram, isolated violence was reported from booth number 212 in Sarberia, where Sheikh Saddam Hussain, the election agent for the Communist Party of India candidate and the son of former legislator Mohammad Elias, was critically injured in a targeted assault. Hussain was admitted to the Nandigram Super Speciality Hospital for treatment. In a related action to preserve public order, local police took Nandigram-1 Block Congress President Sheikh Asafulatullah into custody.

Earlier in the day, Congress nominee Milan Pradhan cast his ballot alongside his wife, Arpita Pradhan, at booth number 280 in Sonachura Gangra Primary School, urging voters to exercise their franchise fearlessly. In the minority-dominated pocket of Kendramari, central forces intervened at booth number 118 in Hussainpur, using mild force to disperse unlawful gatherings outside roadside stalls.

To maintain peace across both constituencies, the Election Commission deployed 37 companies of Central Armed Police Forces in Nandigram and 34 companies in Rejinagar. The stepped-up deployment came on the heels of the Commission's decision late Monday to remove Nandigram police station Inspector-in-Charge Ajay Kumar Mishra and assign a replacement officer.

According to electoral data, Nandigram comprises an electorate of 2,66,419 voters, including 1,38,955 men, 1,27,463 women, and one registered third-gender voter. Rejinagar has 2,56,564 registered electors, including 1,33,925 men, 1,22,616 women, and five third-gender voters.

Alongside the two Bengal seats, by-elections are also being conducted across five assembly segments in three other states and territories, Dharapuram and Madurantakam in Tamil Nadu, and Thattanchavady in Puducherry, as well as the Nagaon parliamentary constituency in Assam. Polling across all centers is scheduled to conclude at 6:00 PM.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh