AJUP Chief Humayun Kabir Detained Amid Rejinagar Bypoll
AJUP chief Humayun Kabir was detained by police in Murshidabad amid allegations of voting interference during the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll.
In a dramatic turn of events during the ongoing Assembly bypolls, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) leader and MLA Humayun Kabir was detained by the Rejinagar Police on Tuesday. The detention took place at his party office in Murshidabad while voting was still in progress for the Rejinagar constituency.
Allegations of Police Interference
The detention follows a heated exchange after Kabir cast his vote earlier in the day. The AJUP chief leveled serious allegations against the law enforcement agencies, claiming that the police are actively interfering with the democratic process at various polling booths.
Speaking to the media, Kabir expressed deep concern over the conduct of the authorities. He questioned the role of the police, stating that instead of protecting the citizens and ensuring a fair election, they appeared to be "hijacking" the vote. He pointed out that the current government is already firmly established, making such interference unnecessary.
Claims of Systematic Atrocities
Kabir further alleged that the political climate has shifted drastically since the previous elections. He noted that while the election held on April 23rd was peaceful and free of wrongdoing, the situation has deteriorated over the last two months.
Key claims made by Humayun Kabir include:
- The police have been committing atrocities and launching attacks over the past two months.
- Approximately 64 individuals have been detained during this period.
- Law enforcement is actively disrupting the voting process at multiple booths.
The Rejinagar Bypoll Context
The Rejinagar Assembly seat became vacant following the resignation of Humayun Kabir himself, who had previously won the seat but also secured a victory in Nowda. The seat is one of several being contested in a series of by-elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Assam.
In West Bengal, the focus remains on both the Nandigram and Rejinagar constituencies. The Nandigram seat was vacated after Suvendu Adhikari won from two constituencies and chose to retain one.
The election process is expected to conclude by October 11, with the counting of votes for these crucial seats scheduled to take place on October 9.