ECI crackdown in Bengal: 106 history-sheeters held ahead of first phase voting

Kolkata: The Election Commission has stepped up pre-poll enforcement in West Bengal, with 106 individuals with criminal records detained in a coordinated overnight operation as authorities tighten security before the first phase of assembly elections.

The action was carried out across multiple districts as part of preventive measures aimed at curbing intimidation, violence and unlawful activity during the voting process. Officials said the exercise forms part of a broader election security plan being monitored directly by the commission.

Alongside the detentions, the poll panel has significantly expanded on-ground preparedness, deploying thousands of Quick Response Teams across constituencies voting in the opening phase. Sensitive regions and border districts are under additional surveillance, with officials warning of strict action against lapses related to illegal arms or explosives.

The crackdown comes amid heightened political tension, with the Trinamool Congress moving the Calcutta High Court over concerns that party workers could face preventive detention ahead of polling. The court is expected to hear the matter before the first phase begins.

West Bengal’s assembly elections will be held in two stages later this month, with results scheduled in early May. The intensified enforcement reflects the commission’s effort to ensure tighter control over security as campaigning enters its final stretch.