Political friction has intensified in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming Rejinagar assembly by-election scheduled for October 6. In a late-night operation on Monday, police personnel from the Rejinagar police station apprehended two senior leaders belonging to Humayun Kabir's political outfit, the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), in connection with a previously registered police case. The arrests have triggered fresh political turbulence across the constituency as campaigning gathers momentum.
Police Apprehend Core Committee Member and Youth Wing Leader
According to police details, the arrested individuals have been identified as Anisur Rahman and Sohel Mondal. Anisur Rahman serves as an active member of the party's core committee and resides in the Gopalpur area. Sohel Mondal holds the post of youth vice president within the organization and is a local resident of Rejinagar. Both political functionaries were apprehended regarding past legal charges pending against them. Following their arrest, the police produced both leaders before the Baharampur district court and formally moved a plea seeking 10 days of police custody to carry out detailed questioning.
Earlier Arrest of State Secretary With Counterfeit Currency and Arms
These latest arrests follow close on the heels of another major crackdown conducted just two days earlier against the top leadership of the party. The state secretary of the organization, Ashik Iqbal, was apprehended late on Friday night during an intensive vehicular check at a police checkpoint in Hariharpara, Murshidabad district. Operating near the Garinama area, police officers intercepted an SUV for scrutiny and recovered 108 counterfeit currency notes of Rs 500 denomination, along with two illegal weapons and four live cartridges. Another co-passenger travelling alongside Ashik Iqbal was also taken into custody by authorities at the scene.
Symbol Setback From Election Commission and Probe Against Humayun Kabir
Apart from the rapid string of arrests of its organizational leaders, the party has encountered hurdles on the administrative front. The Election Commission did not allocate the requested 'Whistle Flute' (City Bansuri) election symbol to the son of Humayun Kabir for the upcoming bypoll contest, altering his campaign requirements on the ground.
Simultaneously, party founder Humayun Kabir is under scrutiny in connection with a police probe into an alleged conspiracy to incite violence during the election period. Kabir was summoned to appear at the Baharampur police station for interrogation on September 21. A police contingent from the Baharampur station arrived at his residence in Shaktipur on Saturday to serve the summons notice. The investigation stems from an audio recording that surfaced involving a conversation between two individuals regarding placing a BJP flag on an under-construction Babri Masjid in Murshidabad. The audio purportedly contains the voice of Humayun Kabir. Following the prior arrest of one individual in this case, investigators called Kabir in for formal questioning to probe the matter further.
