TMC block president arrested in Cooch Behar for violence, molestation
Synopsis
Two Trinamool Congress block presidents arrested in Cooch Behar within days — the latest in a string of detentions of TMC functionaries across West Bengal since the BJP took power. The charges range from molestation and vandalism to attacking the Chief Minister's convoy, marking a sharp escalation in post-election accountability or, critics say, political targeting.
Key Takeaways
Abdul Kader , TMC president of Cooch Behar I-B block , was arrested on Monday on charges of vandalism, looting, and molestation allegedly committed before the West Bengal Assembly elections .
This is the second arrest of a TMC block president in Cooch Behar within days — Shuvankar Dey of Cooch Behar Block II was earlier detained over an attack on CM Suvendu Adhikari's convoy on 5 August 2025 .
Since the BJP formed a government in West Bengal, police have arrested multiple TMC councillors and block leaders across districts including Murshidabad , Hooghly , South 24 Parganas , and North 24 Parganas .
TMC councillor Rajesh Shah alias Kukua has alleged political vendetta behind his arrest in Serampore.
Legal proceedings against all arrested leaders are ongoing; further action is not ruled out, according to police sources.
A Trinamool Congress (TMC) block president has been arrested in Cooch Behar district of north Bengal on charges of violence and molestation, police confirmed on Tuesday, 19 May. The arrest is the second such high-profile detention of a TMC block-level leader in the district within days, pointing to an accelerating crackdown on political crime under the new state administration.
The Arrest
Abdul Kader, president of the Trinamool Congress Cooch Behar I-B block, was taken into custody from the Guriahati II gram panchayat area on Monday. He was produced before a court on Monday afternoon. According to police sources, allegations against him include vandalism, looting, and molestation — offences that reportedly took place in the lead-up to the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Second Arrest in Days
The detention of Kader follows the arrest of Shuvankar Dey, TMC president of Cooch Behar Block II, who was taken in connection with an attack on the convoy of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 5 August 2025. Adhikari had travelled to Cooch Behar to lead a protest rally when his convoy was targeted. The back-to-back arrests of two block presidents from the same district have triggered sharp debate in political circles across the state.
Pattern of Crackdowns Across West Bengal
The Cooch Behar arrests are part of a broader pattern that has emerged since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in West Bengal. Police have moved against several TMC functionaries facing criminal allegations in recent weeks.
On 9 May, police arrested Bhishmadev Karmakar, a TMC councillor in Berhampore, Murshidabad district, accused of obstructing Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury's Assembly election campaign. On 6 May, a TMC councillor in Hooghly's Serampore was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer. The accused, Rajesh Shah alias Kukua, has alleged political vendetta. On 5 May, Amirul Sheikh Islam, councillor of ward 14 of Pujali Municipality in Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas, was arrested again under the Arms Act.
Separately, Shantanu Majumdar alias Mejo, a TMC councillor of ward 14 of Baranagar Municipality in North 24 Parganas, was arrested on charges of extortion.
Political Fallout
TMC has not publicly commented on the Cooch Behar arrests. The opposition BJP has framed the police actions as evidence of systemic lawlessness under the previous administration. Critics of the crackdown, however, argue that some arrests carry the hallmark of political targeting — a charge the state administration has not directly addressed.
What Comes Next
With multiple TMC leaders now in custody across districts, pressure is building on the party's state leadership to respond. Legal proceedings against the arrested leaders are ongoing, and further arrests are not ruled out, according to police sources.
Point of View
Depending on which side of the aisle you stand. What is notable is the geographic concentration: Cooch Behar has historically been a flashpoint for BJP-TMC violence, and the district's cases carry symbolic weight beyond their legal merit. The pattern — councillors, block presidents, ward functionaries — suggests the net is being cast wide. The real question is whether due process is being followed uniformly, or whether the crackdown is calibrated to maximise political optics rather than legal outcomes. That distinction will define whether this is justice or its mirror image.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abdul Kader and why was he arrested?
Abdul Kader is the Trinamool Congress president of Cooch Behar I-B block in West Bengal. He was arrested on Monday from the Guriahati II gram panchayat area on charges of vandalism, looting, and molestation allegedly committed before the West Bengal Assembly elections.
What is the significance of two TMC block presidents being arrested in Cooch Behar?
It marks a rapid escalation in police action against TMC functionaries in the district. The back-to-back arrests — Abdul Kader and Shuvankar Dey within days of each other — signal a broader crackdown on political violence since the BJP assumed power in West Bengal.
Who is Shuvankar Dey and what is he accused of?
Shuvankar Dey is the TMC president of Cooch Behar Block II. He was arrested in connection with an attack on the convoy of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on 5 August 2025, when Adhikari had visited Cooch Behar to lead a protest rally.
Which other TMC leaders have been arrested recently in West Bengal?
Several TMC functionaries have been arrested in recent weeks: Bhishmadev Karmakar in Berhampore on 9 May, Rajesh Shah alias Kukua in Hooghly's Serampore on 6 May, Amirul Sheikh Islam in Diamond Harbour on 5 May, and Shantanu Majumdar alias Mejo in Baranagar on extortion charges.
Has TMC responded to the arrests?
TMC has not publicly commented on the Cooch Behar arrests. Councillor Rajesh Shah alias Kukua has individually alleged political vendetta, but no official party response has been issued as of Tuesday.
