Proven Fear Trap for dissent in West Bengal

Feb 24, 2026 - By Ashutosh Roy Current AffairsPolitics

Key Highlights: Why “Fear Trap” in West Bengal?

1. 2026 Elections in Focus: As the state heads toward the 2026 Assembly Elections, the phrase “Fear Trap” dominates political discussions, from courtrooms to tea stalls.
2. Systematic Pressure Alleged: Critics claim authorities use legal cases, social isolation, and administrative hurdles to discourage dissent.
3. Legal Web Through FIRs: Opposition leaders often face multiple FIRs across districts.
   • For example, Suvendu Adhikari has repeatedly approached courts seeking protection from what he calls “frivolous and repetitive FIRs.”
   • Authorities allegedly file cases in remote districts, forcing long legal battles and financial strain.
4. “Legal Exhaustion” Strategy: Continuous court appearances reportedly drain time, money, and energy, limiting political mobilization.
5. SIR Controversy Intensifies Fear:
   • The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists has sparked fresh tensions.
   • The opposition alleges that the process may target dissenting voters.
   • As a result, many citizens fear deletion from voter rolls if they openly support opposition parties.
6. Voter Anxiety Rising: This creates a “voter fear trap,” where even casting a vote feels risky.
7. Targeting Beyond Politicians:
   • Economic Pressure: Reports claim threats of cancelling welfare benefits like ration cards or housing schemes.
   • Social Boycott: Villages allegedly impose informal boycotts on dissenters.
   • Family Intimidation: During recent clashes, intimidation reportedly extended to family members.
8. Federal Friction Adds Fuel:
   • The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) claims central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) act as political tools of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
   • Conversely, the opposition alleges misuse of State Police machinery.
9. Justice Delays Deepen Distrust: Political battles often overshadow investigations into unrest or violence, leading to delays and eroding faith in institutions.
10. Democracy at a Crossroads: With the Supreme Court and Election Commission intervening in key matters, the 2026 election is shaping up as a major test for democratic safeguards in Bengal.

Why Fear Trap in West Bengal?

West Bengal is often called the cultural capital of India. However, today its political landscape tells a darker story. The state is moving toward the 2026 Assembly Elections. Meanwhile, one specific phrase is echoing everywhere from the hallways of the Supreme Court to local tea stalls: the “Fear Trap”.

For those who dare to oppose the ruling power, the consequences are no longer just political defeats. Instead, they face a systematic “trap” made of legal cases, physical threats, and social isolation. This article explores how this proven fear trap works. This also reveals why it is silencing the voice of dissent in West Bengal.

1. The Legal Web: FIRs as a Tool of Silence

The first layer of the fear trap is the “legal marathon”.  In West Bengal, voicing an opinion against the government often leads to an immediate FIR (First Information Report). The law is meant to protect citizens. However, many critics argue that authorities are using it to exhaust them instead.

First, opposition leaders often find themselves fighting dozens of cases at the same time. For instance, high-profile leaders like Suvendu Adhikari have frequently approached the courts. They have sought protection from what they describe as “frivolous and repetitive FIRs”. As a result, the legal battle has become a recurring political theme.

Furthermore, authorities often file these cases in remote districts. This forces activists to spend their days traveling from one court hearing to another. Consequently, they have no time or money left to organize protests or meet with voters. This “legal exhaustion” is a proven method to drain the resources of anyone who tries to stand up.

2. The SIR Controversy: A New Kind of Fear

As we move into 2026, a new term has entered the fear trap: Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Election Commission’s drive to clean up voter lists has become a major flashpoint.

Initially, the objective of SIR was to remove “fake” voters. However, the opposition alleges that BJP uses SIR to target their supporters. In February 2026, the Supreme Court even flagged a “systematic pattern of violence” during this process. Reports suggest that officials on the ground, such as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), have been threatened or attacked.

As a result, many citizens now fear that authorities will delete their names from the list if they openly support an opposition party. Consequently, anxiety spreads beyond politics and into everyday life.

This situation creates a “voter fear trap.” In this climate, even casting a vote begins to feel like a dangerous risk to one’s legal identity.

3. Threats Beyond the Politician: Targeting Families

Perhaps the most painful part of the trap is how it affects innocent family members. In rural Bengal, politics is personal. When a local worker joins an opposition party, the pressure does not stop at them.

1. Economic Pressure: Reports frequently claim that officials threaten families with the cancellation of government welfare benefits, such as ration cards or housing schemes. As a result, many households feel pressured into silence.
2. Social Boycott: In some villages, community groups impose an informal “social boycott” on dissenters. They block them from attending community events or entering local markets. As a result, social isolation becomes a powerful tool of pressure.
3. Physical Safety: During the 2025 and early 2026 local clashes, the focus shifted from attacking leaders to intimidating their wives and children.

Consequently, many talented individuals stay away from politics. They choose silence not because they agree with the government, but because they cannot risk the safety of their loved ones.

Moreover there are several pending cases in the Supreme Court. Again, the court has passed it’s mandate on DA Case. Still the State Government has not paid even the first installment.

4. The “Federal Friction” Trap

Finally, the constant war between the State and the Centre makes the “fear trap” even worse. As tensions escalate, ordinary citizens often find themselves caught in the middle.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) claims that central agencies like the ED and CBI are the real tools of fear. According to the party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) uses these agencies to pressure and intimidate its political opponents.

On the other hand, the opposition claims the State Police is a wing of the ruling party.

Moreover, this “war of agencies” leaves the common citizen caught in the middle. When a crime happens, like the recent unrest in Murshidabad or the factory fires in Kolkata, the investigation becomes a political football.  Because of this, authorities often delay justice. Consequently, the “rule of law” gives way to the “rule of the ruler”.

5. Fear Trap For West Bengal Governmennt

1.  The Supreme Court has passed it’s mandate on DA Case. Still the State Government has not paid even the first installment.
2. There are several pending cases in the Supreme Court.
3. There are several pending cases with Enforcement Director(ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
4. If CBI & ED start filing chargesheets before the assembly election 2026, the Government may be in trouble.

Conclusion: Breaking the Cycle

The “Proven Fear Trap” in West Bengal is a multi-layered system. It uses the police, the voter list, and social pressure to ensure that dissent remains a high-cost activity. However, the recent interventions by the Supreme Court and the Election Commission offer a glimmer of hope. Mamata Banerjee is slightly in an awkward position before the 2026 Bengal Election.

For democracy to survive in the 2026 elections, the state needs more than just slogans. Instead, leaders must create a safe space where people can raise a “voice of opposition” without fearing a court case or a threat to their home. Until that happens, the fear trap remains the most powerful political player in Bengal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What exactly is the “Fear Trap” in West Bengal politics?

A: The “Fear Trap” describes a systematic environment. In this environment, authorities discourage political dissent through legal, social, and administrative pressures. As a result, many people hesitate to speak out openly. This includes the filing of multiple “serial” FIRs, threats to withdraw government welfare benefits, and social boycotts of opposition families in rural areas.

Q: What is the “SIR” controversy currently in the news?

A: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a 2026 voter list verification drive. While officially meant to remove discrepancies, the opposition alleges it is a “trap” to disenfranchise dissenting voters. In February 2026, the Supreme Court took the extraordinary step of appointing district judges to oversee the process due to a “trust deficit” between the state government and the Election Commission.

Q: How are court cases used to silence the opposition?

A: A common tactic is filing “frivolous FIRs” in different districts for the same incident. This forces opposition workers to travel constantly for court hearings, draining their financial resources and time, and effectively preventing them from campaigning or organizing protests.

Q: What has the Supreme Court said about the current situation?

A: On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court expressed disappointment over the state’s lack of cooperation in providing high-ranking officers for voter verification. The Court invoked Article 142 to ensure fair adjudication, stating that incompetent officials cannot be allowed to decide the fate of millions of voters.

Q: Is the “Fear Trap” only created by the State Government?

A: The narrative is complex. The ruling TMC argues that they are victims of a “Central Fear Trap,” alleging that agencies like the ED and CBI are being weaponized by the Central Government to harass their leaders ahead of the 2026 polls.

Key Takeaway

The upcoming Assembly Election is being viewed as a “litmus test” for Indian democracy. With judicial officers now directly involved in administrative duties, the goal is to break the cycle of intimidation and ensure every citizen can vote without fear of legal or physical retaliation.

For a deeper understanding of the high-stakes political environment, Comprehend the fear trap and the major crises that the ruling party is facing as they navigate legal battles and internal revolts before the 2026 elections.