Why Pre-Poll Violence Now in Bengal?

Feb 27, 2026 - By Ashutosh Roy Current AffairsElection AnalysisGovernance & AdminPoliticsRegional UpdatesSocial IssuesWest Bengal Politics

Key Highlights

1. Pre-poll violence concerns rise after gunfire killed a young real estate promoter in Howrah’s Golabari area.
2. The crime scene was located near Howrah Station and the Metro Station, raising serious security questions.
3. CCTV footage of the shooting has surfaced, yet the accused remain unarrested.
4. Police say a money dispute may have triggered the murder, and an investigation is ongoing.
5. On the same day, attackers opened fire in Tiljala and Beniapukur, spreading fear across the city.
6. Attackers assaulted an ABP Ananda journalist while he covered the Howrah incident, raising serious concerns about freedom of press.
7. Questions intensify over the easy availability of illegal firearms in the state.
8. Critics argue that law and order issues continue despite repeated promises of crackdowns.
9. Comparisons with other states fuel debate over the “Jungle Raj” narrative.
10. Observers see these incidents as a possible early signal of upcoming elections.
11. Concerns grow over declining democratic space and lack of accountability.
12. Ultimately, citizens still hold one powerful tool, their vote.

Is Pre-Poll Violence Returning to West Bengal?

What Happened in the Howrah Early Morning Shooting?

Gunfire rocked Howrah early Wednesday morning. On February 25, attackers shot a young real estate promoter at point-blank range and killed him. The incident took place in the Golabari police station area. Notably, the crime scene is very close to Howrah Station and the Metro Station. Is it the starting of Pre-Poll Violence in Bengal?

The name of the victim was Soufik Khan. The shooting occurred in the Pilkhana area at dawn. Meanwhile, CCTV footage of the incident has surfaced.

According to allegations, two youths, Harun Khan and Rohit, opened fire on the victim. Police Commissioner Akash Magharia stated that preliminary findings suggest a dispute over money triggered the murder. Therefore, police have launched a detailed investigation. However, authorities have not yet arrested the accused.

Furthermore, Harun is allegedly a close associate of Uttar Howrah MLA Gautam Chowdhury.

Why Did Gunfire Spread Political Unrest Across Howrah and Tiljala?

On the same day, the criminals shot another person on Tiljala Road. The local councillor told the press that he was aware of the incident. However, she admitted that she could do nothing about it. The police failed to arrest the prime accused Sona Pappu as yet.

Later that night, in the Beniapukur area, the hooligans shot in the legs on Niyaz. As a result, fear spread across multiple parts of the city within hours.

How Was a Journalist Attacked During Coverage?

Meanwhile, during coverage of the Howrah firing, the canon fodders attacked  ABP Ananda correspondent Mayukh Thakur Chakraborty. His nasal bone was broken in the assault. Notably, just before the incident, senior police officials had conducted a route march through the same area.

Should we consider all these as Pre-poll violence?

Is “Jungle Raj” Becoming a Reality in the State?

When Narendra Modi says that “Jungle Raj” is prevailing here, many Bengalis feel it hurts their sense of identity. However, representatives of the Trinamool Congress often appear on television and highlight ugly incidents from other states. Their argument is simple: if such crimes happen in other states, they can also happen here.

No doubt, if we start comparing globally, we may find even more disturbing incidents. For example, one may even cite situations of war. However, none of these comparisons prove that incidents in our own state are justified.

Importantly, no Trinamool Congress representative openly admits that while election-time or post-poll violence has significantly reduced in once-infamous states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, it still continues here without shame.

This is the irony of democracy. We have freedom of speech. Therefore, people can question, compare, and express their concerns openly.

Has Law and Order Collapsed Before West Bengal Elections?

These incidents perhaps send the first signal that elections are approaching. As political activity rises, tension on the ground also seems to increase.

Even in cases involving money disputes or minor thefts like stealing a cold drink, people quickly pull out guns and fire shots.

As a result, many people now ask a serious question. What else can we call this situation if not “Jungle Raj”?

Why Are Illegal Firearms Still Circulating Freely?

A serious question also arises how are so many illegal firearms entering the state? Before coming to power, the Chief Minister had promised to recover all illegal arms. Later, after the 2022 Birbhum incident, she again ordered a crackdown to seize unlawful weapons.

This means the Chief Minister is fully aware of the issue. However, such incidents continue to occur.

Therefore, as the Police Minister, she cannot avoid responsibility for the law-and-order situation.

Any Effort to Control Criminalization of Power to avoid Pre-Poll Violence?

In fact, we can still call this pre-poll violence, but only if the rest of the time remains peaceful.

However, let us clarify something. By peace, we do not mean that no incident will ever happen. We never expected West Bengal to become Iceland overnight. Similarly, we never believed Kolkata would turn into London or Digha into Switzerland.

Yet, we had genuine expectations.

When Mamata Banerjee came to power, we hoped she would free us from the misrule and political domination of the CPM era. We expected her government to restore at least a minimum democratic space for ordinary citizens.

Unfortunately, reality turned out very differently.

After the so-called “change,” we did not witness clean governance. Instead, we saw the criminalization of power replaced by the empowerment of criminals. From the top level to the grassroots, wealth and influence began to display themselves shamelessly.

Moreover, after the Abhaya incident, we saw how Sandeep Ghosh received a prized posting. The axe of punishment fell down Only on Sanjay. The others continued to walk around with confidence and authority.

And never think that it has happened only in one case. Abhaya is not an isolated story. Similar “Abhaya-like” incidents are spread across West Bengal.

Even more disturbing, we often see police remain inactive despite knowing that the canon fodders have murdered  father and son. This repeated inaction raises serious questions about law, order, and accountability in the state.

Therefore, the larger issue is not just election-time violence. The real concern is the steady erosion of democratic values and administrative responsibility in West Bengal.

Is There a Lack of Political Will to Act?

That is why the issue is not limited to elections alone. Almost every day, news reports highlight the growing lawlessness in this state. Reports of journalist harassment also make headlines frequently.

However, none of these issues see real solutions.

The core problem appears to be a lack of political will. Without genuine intent, reforms remain on paper. As a result, accountability becomes weak and public trust continues to decline.

Meanwhile, much of the intellectual community remains silent. Their silence often feels like comfortable indifference at a time when strong voices are needed the most.

Can Voters Respond Through Ballots in West Bengal Elections?

Yet, ordinary citizens still hold one powerful weapon, which is their vote.

Ultimately, elections provide people with the opportunity to demand change, restore democratic balance, and hold those in power accountable.

People Also Ask: West Bengal Pre-Poll Violence (Feb 2026)

What happened in the Howrah shooting on February 25?

Early on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, a 27-year-old real estate promoter named Soufik (or Shafik) Khan was shot dead at point-blank range in the Pilkhana area of Howrah, near the Golabari police station. CCTV footage captured two assailants firing multiple rounds at him. Police investigations suggest a financial dispute or old rivalry triggered the murder.

Who are the main accused in the Soufik Khan murder case?

The local people have  identified Harun Khan and Rohit as The primary accused. Allegations surfaced shortly after the incident linking Harun Khan as a close associate of the local Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA, Gautam Chowdhury, after videos of the two together appeared on social media. The MLA has denied any personal involvement, stating he meets thousands of people as a public representative.

Why was an ABP Ananda journalist attacked in Howrah?

While covering the aftermath of the Howrah shooting, Mayukh Thakur Chakraborty, a correspondent for ABP Ananda, was brutally assaulted by a mob. The attack occurred shortly after he questioned MLA Gautam Chowdhury regarding his alleged links to the accused. The journalist suffered a broken nasal bone and profuse bleeding.

What caused the shooting in the Tiljala/Beniapukur area?

On the night of February 23–24, 2026, a youth named Mohammad Niyaz was shot in the legs on Tiljala Road. The violence reportedly stemmed from a trivial argument involving the theft of a cold drink by a child. When Niyaz intervened to mediate, the accused, Mohammad Salman, and his father, Mohammad Anwar, allegedly ambushed and shot him. Kolkata Police arrested both later.

Who is Sona Pappu and why is his name linked to recent unrest?

The popular strongman Biswajit Poddar, alias Sona Pappu, has got links to several clashes in South Kolkata, particularly in the Golpark and Kasba areas. His name appeared as  the prime accused in a violent clash on February 1 involving bombs and gunfire over “promoting” (real estate) disputes. While several of his associates have been arrested, Pappu has frequently evaded immediate arrest, leading to public outcry over “Jungle Raj.”

Is pre-poll violence returning to West Bengal in 2026?

The surge in daytime shootings, attacks on journalists, and the free circulation of illegal firearms have led many residents and opposition leaders to claim that pre-poll violence is escalating. With elections approaching, the critics are viewing these incidents as a sign of collapsing law and order and the “criminalization of power” in the state.