Humayun Kabir Detained During Rejinagar Bypoll

West Bengal MLA and Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir was detained by police on Tuesday during polling for the Rejinagar Assembly by-election, after a heated confrontation with officers at his party office in Murshidabad.

A video of the incident has circulated widely on Social Media, showing police personnel surrounding Kabir and taking him toward a police vehicle. The footage shows a tense exchange between the MLA and officers before he is taken away.

The detention took place as voting was underway in Rejinagar, where Kabir’s son, Golam Nabi Azad, is contesting the by-election as the AJUP candidate. Kabir had earlier cast his vote with his family before going to his party office.

Humayun Kabir Detained During Rejinagar Bypoll

Polling in Rejinagar began at around 8 am on Tuesday. Kabir first went to a polling booth in his Shaktipur village and exercised his franchise with members of his family.

After voting, he travelled to the AJUP office in Rejinagar. Police later reached the party office following allegations that Kabir was creating tension and attempting to influence the situation around polling areas.

A heated argument then broke out between Kabir and police personnel. The confrontation was captured on video, with officers eventually taking the MLA into a police vehicle.

Reports from the spot said the police action followed Kabir’s repeated criticism of the force during the morning. He had been alleging that police deployment around his residence and at polling booths was intended to intimidate voters and restrict his party’s activities.

Video Shows Heated Exchange With Police

The video circulating from the incident shows Kabir arguing with police officers as tensions rise outside the party office. Officers are seen attempting to move him toward a vehicle while Kabir continues to object to the action.

Kabir accused the police of “looting the vote” and acting in a partisan manner. Police personnel asked him to return home, but he refused and insisted that he would remain in the area.

The situation escalated as officers moved him toward the police vehicle. The footage shows police personnel pulling him by his shirt while taking him away.

While being taken into custody, Kabir was heard questioning the nature of the police action. “Whether I am being arrested or detained, I know nothing,” he said, according to the reported account of the incident.

The exact legal status of the action and the allegations against Kabir are being examined as the bypoll continues.

Kabir Had Been Criticising Police Since Morning

The confrontation did not occur in isolation. Kabir had been publicly criticising police arrangements since the beginning of polling.

He alleged that a large number of security personnel had been deployed outside his residence and claimed that the police presence was being used to intimidate voters.

Kabir also alleged that AJUP polling agents were being prevented from sitting at several booths in the Rejinagar constituency. These claims were part of his criticism of the security arrangements during the by-election.

Police, Meanwhile, moved against Kabir after the situation at his party office became tense. Reports said officers had accused him of interfering with the polling process and creating tension in areas where voting was underway.

The competing accounts have become part of the wider political dispute surrounding the Rejinagar bypoll, where several parties are contesting the seat.

Why Rejinagar Seat Is Being Contested Again

The Rejinagar Assembly seat became vacant after Kabir won both Rejinagar and Nowda in the May 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections and chose to retain Nowda.

His decision to retain Nowda resulted in the need for a fresh election in Rejinagar. The AJUP subsequently nominated his son, Golam Nabi Azad, as its candidate for the vacant seat.

The by-election has therefore drawn particular attention because Kabir remains politically active in the constituency even though he is no longer contesting the Rejinagar seat himself.

The detention on polling day has added another confrontation to an already tense electoral environment in the constituency.

Who Is Contesting the Rejinagar Bypoll?

The Rejinagar contest includes candidates from several major political parties as well as Kabir’s AJUP.

AJUP has fielded Golam Nabi Azad. The Bharatiya Janata Party has nominated Sakharav Sarkar, while the Trinamool congress has fielded Rabiul Alam Chowdhury.

Other candidates include Safiuzzaman Sheikh, Congress candidate Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi and CPI(M) candidate Syed Asad Ali.

With multiple parties competing for the seat, the conduct of polling and the role of security forces have remained closely watched throughout the voting process.

Police Action Becomes Election-Day Flashpoint

The detention of a sitting MLA and party chief during polling has become one of the most prominent incidents of the Rejinagar by-election. The confrontation was particularly notable because it occurred while voters were still casting ballots.

For election authorities, maintaining order around polling stations is a central responsibility, particularly when political representatives and supporters gather near voting locations.

At the same time, allegations concerning police interference or restrictions on political agents can become politically sensitive during an election. Such claims need to be assessed through official records and the findings of the relevant authorities rather than through video footage alone.

The viral video shows the physical confrontation and Kabir’s objections, but it does not by itself establish all the circumstances that preceded the police action.

Humayun Kabir’s Allegations Against Police

Kabir had accused police of targeting his party and interfering with the election process even before he was detained.

He claimed that police personnel had been positioned heavily around his residence and suggested that the deployment was intended to create pressure on voters and his supporters.

He also alleged that AJUP agents were being prevented from occupying their designated positions at some polling booths. These allegations have not been established as facts and remain part of Kabir’s account of events.

The police action against him followed the confrontation at the party office, where officers sought to move him away from the area.

Earlier Police Concerns Involving AJUP

The latest incident comes after police had already taken steps involving members of Kabir’s party in the run-up to the by-election.

Police had previously summoned Kabir for questioning in connection with a case involving an alleged conspiracy to create tension between communities. The case was registered before the Rejinagar bypoll, and Kabir was directed to appear before investigating officers.

There had also been other police actions involving individuals associated with the election and Kabir’s political organisation. These developments contributed to tensions between the AJUP leadership and law enforcement before polling day.

Those earlier developments provide context for Kabir’s repeated criticism of the police during Tuesday’s voting, although each allegation and case remains subject to the relevant investigation and legal process.

Nandigram Also Goes to Polls

Polling is also being held in the Nandigram Assembly constituency as part of the West Bengal by-elections.

The two constituencies are being closely watched because the voting comes after the state’s 2026 Assembly elections and involves contests featuring candidates from several major political parties.

In Rejinagar, the focus has been particularly intense around allegations concerning security deployment, polling agents and the conduct of political workers.

The detention of Kabir has added another major incident to the day’s election-related developments in the constituency.

What Happens After Kabir’s Detention?

The immediate focus will be on maintaining the polling process and ensuring that voting continues without disruption. Authorities will also have to deal with any further complaints or allegations arising from the confrontation.

The incident is likely to remain politically significant because Kabir is not only the AJUP chief but also the sitting MLA from Nowda and the father of the party’s candidate in the Rejinagar bypoll.

His detention could also become part of the competing narratives surrounding the election, with the AJUP focusing on its allegations against the police while authorities emphasise the need to maintain order during polling.

For voters, the central issue remains whether the election process proceeds peacefully and whether polling arrangements allow eligible voters and authorised election representatives to participate according to established rules.

Rejinagar Bypoll Continues Amid Political Tension

The detention of Humayun Kabir has brought fresh attention to the tense atmosphere surrounding the Rejinagar by-election. The viral video captures a sharp confrontation between the AJUP chief and police, followed by officers taking him away in a police vehicle.

Kabir has alleged that police were interfering with the voting process and intimidating his supporters, while police action against him came after a confrontation at his party office during polling.

The Rejinagar seat became vacant after Kabir retained Nowda following his dual victory in the 2026 Assembly elections. His son Golam Nabi Azad is now contesting the seat for AJUP against candidates from the BJP, TMC, Congress and CPI(M), among others.

As voting continues, the focus will remain on the conduct of the polling process, the allegations surrounding the day’s incidents and the official findings concerning Kabir’s detention.