West Bengal’s new rulebook

The West Bengal police are ready to implement the two anti-gunda laws from Monday. The Bills were passed last month after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that law and order was prime on his Government’s agenda as it was a precondition for State’s economic revival and new investments.

The two laws- The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026 and The West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — were passed on June 29.

In an apparent reference to the previous acts of riots, vandalism and arson in the district post announcement of Citizenship Amendment Act and later on Wakf laws the CM during his visit to Murshidabad on Friday had said, “The Governor has given assent to the two anti-gunda bills and will come into force from Monday,” adding his Government will follow a “zero tolerance policy against all kinds of vandalism.”

Referring to CM’s instruction a senior officer of the State police department on Sunday said, “All the district police administrations have been notified about it. The laws will be enforced from tomorrow.”

Modeled after laws prevalent in States like Uttar Pradesh the first law stipulates the preventive detention for 12 months without trial. The second law proposes confiscation of the properties of those who destroy public property. A Claims Commission will determine the amount of compensation.

Former State BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday said, “Bengal had enough of unruliness in the name of protests. It is necessary to take the State towards the path of development. Preventive detention by the police on suspicion of mischief is one of the measures that can ensure a better law and order.”

Opposition Left and Congress have strongly objected to the implementation of what they called draconian laws. CPI(M) central committee member Meenakshi Mukherjee said, “These laws are clearly aimed against the political opponents who would rise up to protest against anti-people measures taken by this Government. First, they will unleash bulldozers on hapless poor demolishing their shops and houses and if they protest, they will be arrested. They will also not allow the arrested persons lawyers of their choice. They will have to appoint lawyers from the State panel. The BJP is digging its own grave.” Congress leader Adhir Chowdhury compared the law with Rowlatt Act, saying, “The democratic minded people of West Bengal will definitely protest against such laws.”