Ahead of polling for the second phase of 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal, multiple teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have been posted across different districts in the state, including South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Nadia, and Kolkata.
These teams are investigating cases of recovery of crude bombs, illegal arms and ammunitions, according to officials.
Teams are also on ground to immediately respond if a situation arises during, after or before polling, they added.
West Bengal Elections 2026 | The National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams are spread across various districts, including South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Nadia, and Kolkata ahead of polling. Teams are probing the cases of recovery of crude bombs, illegal arms and ammunitions. Teams…
— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2026
Over 2,300 arrested ahead of phase-2 polls
More than 2,300 persons with known criminal antecedents have been arrested ahead of the second phase of polling in West Bengal, an Election Commission of India (ECI) official said.
As many as 142 Assembly constituencies are set to vote on April 29 which include the state capital Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly among others.
According to an ECI official, around 1,500 persons were arrested across the seven poll-bound districts in South Bengal as the ECI started poll preparations in these areas.
On Monday night alone more than 800 persons have been arrested, the official added.
According to the official, most of these arrests were preventive in nature. “These arrests have been done to ensure free and peaceful second phase of Bengal elections. Apart from this, we have also recovered crude bombs and arms in these operations that are still ongoing,” the official added.
The arrests include a Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor who hails from East Burdwan.
According to the ECI report, the majority of the arrests were made in East Burdwan (479), followed by North 24 Parganas (319) and South 24 Parganas (246).
The first phase of Bengal polls had concluded on April 23 and counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.