Murshidabad, 20 September (H.S.): Political activity around the upcoming Rejinagar Assembly by-election intensified after independent candidate Saiful Islam was arrested by Berhampore police on Saturday. According to police, the arrest is connected with a five-year-old case relating to a clash between two groups during the 2021 Assembly elections.

Saiful Islam is associated with the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) led by Humayun Kabir. His arrest has drawn a strong reaction from Kabir, who on Sunday announced that he would stop campaigning for the election.

Kabir alleged that police were targeting his party’s leaders and workers and claimed that the police were working in favour of the BJP. He said the arrests and alleged harassment had created fear among party workers, making it difficult to conduct an election campaign.

According to Kabir, after receiving the election symbol, candidates were expected to step up campaigning. However, he said that with party workers being arrested, he could not decide whom to take along for campaigning. He therefore announced that his party would not campaign from Sunday and would instead face the situation on polling day.

Kabir also made strong allegations against the police, saying that the party was being prevented from campaigning. His remarks were political allegations and were not independently established in the reports reviewed.

The development came a day after Congress candidate Milan Pradhan, contesting the Nandigram Assembly by-election, was arrested in connection with old cases linked to the 2007 Nandigram land-acquisition agitation. A court subsequently sent Pradhan to judicial custody until October 3.

The Rejinagar and Nandigram Assembly by-elections are scheduled for October 6, 2026. The arrests of candidates in the run-up to polling have become a significant issue in the election campaign.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey