Bengal govt to auction attackers' assets over Falta police station siege; 25 held
Synopsis
West Bengal's CM Suvendu Adhikari has ordered the confiscation and auctioning of properties belonging to those who allegedly stormed the Falta Police Station on 16 June — an unusually sharp civil deterrent. With 25 now arrested and anti-state charges filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the state is signalling zero tolerance even as a separate BJP worker murder case is handed to the CID.
Key Takeaways
10 more persons arrested on 19 June , taking total arrests in the Falta Police Station attack case to 25 .
CM Suvendu Adhikari ordered identification, confiscation, and auction of attackers' properties to recover public property damage costs.
Charges filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 , including provisions related to anti-state activities.
Of those arrested, 12 are in police custody and 13 are in judicial custody.
CID directed to probe the alleged murder of BJP worker Prashanta Dey at Bagnan, Howrah ; family to receive ₹9 lakh compensation.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday, 19 June announced that the state government will identify, confiscate, and auction the properties of those involved in a brazen attempt to storm the Falta Police Station in South 24 Parganas district on 16 June, directing that proceeds be used to recover the cost of damage to public property. The announcement came as 10 more arrests pushed the total number of persons held in the case to 25.
What Happened at Falta Police Station
A group of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters, allegedly led by Regina Bibi — wife of arrested party leader Jahangir Khan — reportedly attempted to breach the Falta Police Station on 16 June in a bid to secure Khan's release from police custody. The incident, which caused damage to public property, triggered a swift crackdown by the state administration.
Of the 25 persons currently in custody, 12 are in police custody and the remaining 13 are in judicial custody, according to Chief Minister Adhikari.
What the Government Said
'Cases in connection with the Falta incident have been registered against the attackers under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including provisions related to anti-state activities. We will not only ensure exemplary punishment for the attackers, but compensation for the damage will also be recovered by confiscating their properties,' CM Adhikari said.
He added that accused individuals would be identified through video footage circulating on social media. 'The accused will be identified and punished after screening videos available on social media,' Adhikari said.
CID to Probe BJP Worker's Murder in Howrah
In a separate development, CM Adhikari directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police to take over the investigation into the alleged murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Prashanta Dey at Bagnan in Howrah district, reportedly by TMC activists on Wednesday night.
The state government has also announced a compensation of ₹9 lakh for the family of the deceased — ₹4 lakh from the state exchequer and ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
Broader Context and What's Next
The Falta incident is the latest in a series of law-and-order flashpoints in West Bengal involving alleged political violence. The invocation of anti-state activity provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 signals an unusually firm legal posture from the state government. The property auction directive, if executed, would mark a rare instance of civil asset recovery being used as a deterrent against political mob violence in the state. Further arrests are likely as authorities continue screening social media footage.
Point of View
But the real test will be whether prosecutions hold up in court or dissolve into the familiar pattern of bail and acquittal that has historically blunted accountability in Bengal's political violence cases.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Falta Police Station on 16 June?
A group of TMC supporters, allegedly led by Regina Bibi, wife of arrested party leader Jahangir Khan, reportedly attempted to storm the Falta Police Station in South 24 Parganas on 16 June to free Khan from custody. The incident caused damage to public property and led to multiple arrests.
How many people have been arrested in the Falta attack case?
As of 19 June, a total of 25 persons have been arrested — 12 in police custody and 13 in judicial custody. Ten of these arrests were made on 19 June alone.
What action has CM Suvendu Adhikari ordered against the attackers?
CM Adhikari directed the administration to identify the properties of those involved, confiscate them, and auction them to recover the cost of damage to public property. He also confirmed that cases have been registered under anti-state activity provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
What is the Prashanta Dey murder case?
Prashanta Dey, a BJP worker, was allegedly murdered by TMC activists at Bagnan in Howrah district on Wednesday night. CM Adhikari directed the CID to take over the investigation and announced ₹9 lakh in compensation for the deceased's family — ₹4 lakh from the state exchequer and ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.
What charges have been filed against the Falta attackers?
The accused have been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including provisions related to anti-state activities. Authorities are also using social media video footage to identify and charge additional suspects.
