Rejinagar bypoll: AJUP chief Humayun Kabir detained after heated clash with police
Humayun Kabir was detained due to a confrontation with police at his party office during the bypoll. He criticized the heavy police presence near his residence and polling booths before voting. After casting his vote, Kabir accused the police of voter intimidation and partisanship while arguing with them. The Rejinagar assembly seat became vacant after Kabir retained Nowda in the previous election.
Rejinagar: Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir was detained on Tuesday after a heated argument with police personnel at his party office in West Bengal's Rejinagar, where voting was underway for the assembly bypoll. Kabir, who had been attacking the police since morning over the deployment of security personnel near his residence and at polling booths, was detained shortly after he cast his vote with his family. Also Read: Bypolls 2026: Four regions, six seats and a fresh test for India’s political mapThe police reached the AUJP office in Rejinagar, following Kabir's repeated remarks against the force. A heated argument broke out between the AJUP chief and police personnel, with the political leader accusing them of dalali (partisanship).
The situation escalated into a scuffle, following which police personnel pulled Kabir by his shirt and took him to a vehicle. Kabir had been vocal against the police from the beginning of polling on Tuesday. While going to cast his vote, he alleged that a large police deployment had been stationed outside his residence. Also Read: BJP, Bengal & bypolls: Nandigram, Rejinagar to put new government's rule to an early testAfter casting his vote, he continued to target the police and alleged that the force was being used to intimidate voters. The bypoll was necessitated after the Rejinagar seat in Murshidabad district fell vacant when Kabir, who won both Rejinagar and Nowda in the 2026 assembly election, retained Nowda. The AJUP has fielded his son Golam Nabi Azad.
The contest includes BJP nominee Sakharav Sarkar, former Murshidabad district president, Mamata-led TMC candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, rival TMC candidate Safiuzzaman Sheikh; Congress nominee Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi and CPI(M)'s Syed Asad Ali. Polling for the Nadigram assembly seat was also underway.