Kolkata, 27 April (H.S.): After a largely peaceful first phase of polling, the police administration in West Bengal has stepped up enforcement ahead of the second phase, launching an intensified crackdown to maintain law and order. Officials said that during a 36-hour operation till Monday morning, a total of 1,095 alleged “troublemakers” or “history-sheeters” were arrested following extensive raids and naka checks. Administrative sources added that the total number of arrests has now risen to 1,543.
District-wise data shows that Purba Bardhaman recorded the highest number of arrests at 479, followed by North 24 Parganas with 319 and South 24 Parganas with 246. In North Kolkata, 109 people were detained, while Hooghly saw 49 arrests. Both Nadia and Howrah reported 32 arrests each, according to police sources.
However, the crackdown has triggered political controversy. Former state Director General of Police and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Kumar has questioned the legality of several arrests. He alleged that in many cases, individuals were detained solely on the basis of verbal inputs from police observers, which he described as a violation of election norms.
The Election Commission’s list of arrests also includes political figures. Among them is TMC councillor Naru Bhakat from Purba Bardhaman, whose detention has sparked discussion in political circles. Authorities, however, have not disclosed detailed grounds for his arrest.
Administrative sources indicated that such operations will be further intensified across the state to prevent any potential unrest ahead of polling. Police officials maintained that the objective of the crackdown is to ensure voter safety and conduct free and peaceful elections.
On the other hand, the Trinamool Congress has earlier accused the Election Commission and police of targeting its workers by branding them as “troublemakers” and detaining them ahead of the polls. The issue has already reached the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court.
Rajeev Kumar further claimed that over 500 arrests were made purely on verbal complaints, arguing that such actions should strictly follow legal procedures, including proper case documentation and charge sheets before being presented in court. He also alleged that instead of focusing on border security, excessive surveillance is being directed at ruling party workers.
The large-scale pre-poll crackdown has intensified the political debate in the state, even as the administration maintains that the measures are essential to uphold law and order during the elections.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
