Rejinagar bypoll counting: Prohibitory orders imposed around Baharampur centre
Synopsis
West Bengal's Murshidabad district has locked down the Rejinagar bypoll counting zone with sweeping prohibitory orders — no vehicles within 100 metres, no gatherings of five or more, no phones within 200 metres — after violence marred Tuesday's polling and a sitting legislator was arrested for voter intimidation.
Key Takeaways
Prohibitory orders imposed around Baharampur Girls College , the counting centre for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll , effective from 5 am Friday until results are declared.
No vehicles allowed within 100 metres ; gatherings of five or more people prohibited in the same zone.
Weapons, mobile phones, and wireless sets banned within 200 metres of the counting centre.
AJUP legislator Humayun Kabir arrested on Tuesday on charges of voter intimidation and manhandling a police officer during polling.
The Nandigram bypoll in East Midnapore district was also held on Tuesday; counting for both seats is on Friday.
The district administration of Murshidabad has imposed comprehensive prohibitory orders and restrictions around the counting centre at Baharampur Girls College ahead of the Rejinagar Assembly Constituency bypoll count on Friday, 10 October 2026, citing apprehensions of tension and violence. The measures, effective from 5 am on Friday until the official declaration of results, follow scattered incidents of violence and intimidation reported during the bypoll held on Tuesday in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.
Key Restrictions at the Counting Centre
Under the orders issued by Sub-Divisional Officer (Headquarters) Samiran Barik, no vehicle will be permitted within 100 metres of the counting venue. Gatherings of five or more people within the same radius have also been prohibited. Additionally, the use of loudspeakers within 100 metres of the centre is banned, and entry without a valid identity card issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) will not be permitted.
A stricter perimeter applies to arms and communications equipment — no weapons, mobile phones, cordless phones, or wireless sets will be allowed within 200 metres of the counting centre. Exemptions apply to magistrates, police personnel, election observers, district magistrates, additional district magistrates, returning officers, and authorised counting staff.
Why the Administration Acted
According to a district administration official, these orders were directly prompted by what was described as 'scattered instances of violence and tension from different pockets in Rejinagar' on the day the bypoll was conducted. Police had flagged to the sub-divisional officer that rival political supporters could congregate in large numbers around the counting centre, posing a risk to public order.
Notably, Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder and legislator Humayun Kabir was arrested on Tuesday morning on charges of moving between polling booths to influence voters, intimidating police officers, and reportedly grabbing an on-duty police constable by his collar. The arrest underscored the volatile atmosphere that marked polling day in the constituency.
Bypoll Context: Rejinagar and Nandigram
The Rejinagar bypoll was one of two constituency elections held on Tuesday in West Bengal. The other was for Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district, which also went to the polls on the same day. Counting for both seats will take place on Friday, though the administration's heightened security measures are specifically centred on the Rejinagar count at Baharampur Girls College.
This is not the first time West Bengal bypoll counting has required elevated security — the state's electoral contests have historically drawn significant political mobilisation around result days. The current precautions signal that authorities are unwilling to allow counting-day crowds to reprise the tensions seen during polling.
What Happens Next
The restrictions are set to remain in place until results are officially declared. Authorities have indicated that adequate police deployment will be maintained throughout the day to enforce the orders. The Rejinagar result is expected to be closely watched as a bellwether for political dynamics in Murshidabad, a constituency that has seen recurring electoral friction.
Point of View
Police officers allegedly intimidated, violence reported across multiple pockets. The real question is whether this is a symptom of a wider pattern in West Bengal's electoral culture, where polling-day coercion has repeatedly compelled extraordinary administrative responses. The arrest of Humayun Kabir — not a fringe figure but a sitting MLA and party founder — on charges of booth-hopping and manhandling a cop deserves scrutiny beyond the bypoll itself. If such conduct can occur openly on polling day, the integrity of the result will face questions regardless of the restrictions on counting day.
NationPress
8 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What restrictions have been imposed at the Rejinagar bypoll counting centre?
The Murshidabad district administration has banned vehicles within 100 metres, prohibited gatherings of five or more people in the same zone, barred loudspeakers within 100 metres, and banned weapons, mobile phones, and wireless sets within 200 metres of Baharampur Girls College. The restrictions run from 5 am Friday until results are officially declared.
Why were prohibitory orders issued for the Rejinagar bypoll count?
Authorities acted after scattered violence and tension were reported from multiple pockets in Rejinagar during Tuesday's bypoll. Police flagged the risk of large crowds of rival political supporters gathering near the counting centre, which could disrupt law and order.
Who is Humayun Kabir and why was he arrested?
Humayun Kabir is the founder and sitting legislator of Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP). He was arrested on Tuesday morning on charges of moving between polling booths to influence voters, intimidating police officers, and allegedly grabbing an on-duty constable by his collar during the Rejinagar bypoll.
When will the Rejinagar bypoll result be declared?
Counting for the Rejinagar Assembly Constituency bypoll begins at 5 am on Friday at Baharampur Girls College in Murshidabad. Results are expected to be declared after the counting process concludes, at which point all restrictions will also be lifted.
Which other constituency held a bypoll on the same day as Rejinagar?
Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district also held its bypoll on Tuesday, the same day as Rejinagar. Counting for the Nandigram seat is also scheduled for Friday.
