The Election Commission of India (ECI) has suspended Inspector Avijit Paul, in-charge of Basanti Police Station in South 24 Parganas district, with immediate effect for “serious negligence and dereliction of duty” in connection with a violent clash on March 26 that left several BJP workers and police personnel injured.
The ECI stated that Inspector Paul failed to make adequate police arrangements despite prior information about public programmes by two political parties in the Basanti Bazar area under Basanti Police Station (Baruipur Police District). ECI also said that Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) had been available for the last few days, yet he did not requisition them for maintaining law and order.
Election Commission of India suspends Inspector Avijit Paul, I/C Basanti PS with immediate effect following the incident of violence that occurred on 26.03.2026 in the Basanti Bazar area under Basanti Police Station, Baruipur Police District, in which several persons, including… pic.twitter.com/eF0nH0uCfB
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2026
The suspension follows a day of political violence on March 26 during a door-to-door election campaign by BJP candidate Bikash Sardar from the Basanti (SC) Assembly constituency, where polls are scheduled for April 29 in the second and final phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026.
Clashes erupted in the busy Basanti Bazar market yesterday when supporters of the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) confronted each other. BJP leaders alleged that TMC-backed miscreants launched an unprovoked attack on their workers with lathis and sticks while the candidate was campaigning. As police intervened to disperse the crowd and restore order, the situation escalated, with attackers turning on law enforcement personnel as well.
Several BJP workers and at least six to eight police personnel sustained injuries. Sub-Inspector Sourav Guha received a head injury requiring stitches. Lathi-wielding men were reportedly seen chasing victims on the road. Police sources confirmed that eight persons have been arrested or detained in connection with the incident, with raids continuing in the area.
The BJP described the assault as a targeted attack by TMC goons on its campaign, while TMC leaders denied the charge and attributed the clash to “public anger” against the BJP’s activities. Heavy contingents of CAPF and state police were later deployed to the spot to bring the situation under control.
The ECI had earlier sought a detailed report from the district administration on the Basanti incident. This swift suspension of the police inspector signals the poll panel’s firm stance against lapses in maintaining law and order during the high-stakes Assembly elections, amid repeated concerns over pre-poll violence in the state.
Notably, 480 companies of central paramilitary forces already deployed across West Bengal for area domination and confidence-building measures ahead of the elections.
