Bengal police arrest Rejinagar bypoll candidate days after Nandigram candidate Milan Pradhan’s arrest

The Independent candidate Saiful Islam of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) was arrested in connection with a clash that took place between two groups during the 2021 West Bengal state elections, according to police. This arrest occurred on September 19, just a day after the Congress' Nandigram assembly bypoll nominee, Milan Pradhan, was apprehended in a case dating back two decades.

Both bypolls, scheduled for October 6, were triggered after West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari relinquished his positions in Nandigram and Bhabanipur. The Berhampore police station officials detained Saiful Islam for a case registered five years ago, following a violent clash between two groups. Additionally, a notice was served to the AJUP chief, requiring him to confront investigating officers on September 21, 2026, regarding a case of alleged conspiracy to instigate community tension.

The case was registered on September 14 after police released an audio recording during a press conference in Berhampore, indicating a possible scheme to provoke community discord. Meanwhile, AJUP state secretary Ashik Iqbal was arrested on September 18 during a routine vehicle inspection in Murshidabad district, where he was found in possession of counterfeit currency and illegal weapons.