Bhabanipur polls heat up: Slogans, standoff and lathi-charge; Police break human chain and detain several
The Statesman | 29 April 2026
Tension rose sharply on polling day in Bhabanipur where heated face-off broke out near two voting booths. It began as a slogan-shouting between rival political groups but soon turned into a confrontation that required strong police action.
The trouble started in front of Booth Numbers 217 and 218 under Ward 73. Supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gathered in large numbers. Then they began raising slogans against each other.
The shouting quickly intensified. It then created panic among local residents and voters nearby.
As the situation worsened, TMC workers led by local ward representative Kajari Banerjee formed a human chain. Their aim was to stop police forces from entering the area.
The group stood tightly together blocking the road and trying to prevent any movement by the security personnel.
Police eventually broke through that human barricade and entered the locality. Soon after gaining access, they moved into the narrow lanes around the booths and began conducting raids.
During this operation, a lathi-charge was carried out to disperse the crowd. Several people were detained in the process.
Amid the chaos, TMC workers were seen urging authorities to move Kajari Banerjee to a safer place. They cited concerns for her safety. However, according to reports, these appeals were not acted upon by the police at that moment.
As tensions refused to settle, a fresh group of armed Central Forces personnel reached the spot. To control the unrest, security forces carried out another round of heavy lathi-charge, pushing people away from the area and attempting to restore order.