Kolkata: The police have taken major action before the two assembly by-elections to be held in West Bengal on 6 October. Saiful Islam, independent candidate from Rezinagar seat, has been arrested. A day before this, Congress candidate from Nandigram Milan Pradhan was also arrested. Saiful Islam is associated with Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP). The party is led by Humayun Kabir.
The police arrested him on 19 September. An old case was registered against him for the clash between two groups during the 2021 assembly elections. Officials of Behrampur police station took action in this five-year-old case.
Arrest in Nandigram also
A day earlier, Congress candidate from Nandigram seat, Milan Pradhan, was arrested. About twenty years old case was registered against him. This incident happened during the movement against land acquisition in the area. Both the arrests took place just before the by-elections. Nandigram seat became vacant because Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had also won Bhawanipur seat and left Nandigram. Rejinagar seat was vacated by Humayun Kabir. He retained the Nawada seat after winning both the seats in the 2026 elections.
Action on AJUP also
The police had sent a notice to the AJUP chief on Saturday. He was asked to appear on Monday in a case involving alleged conspiracy to incite tension between two communities. This case was registered on September 14. Police had released an audio during the press conference in Behrampur. Police claim that there are indications of a conspiracy to increase tension. AJUP state secretary Ashiq Iqbal was arrested during vehicle checking at a police picket in Murshidabad district. A huge quantity of fake notes and illegal weapons were found with them.
These arrests have increased political excitement before the by-elections. The contest on both the seats is going to be interesting. Police say that action in old cases is being taken as per law.