The West Bengal Police has imposed prohibitory orders for 60 days, starting Sunday, in parts of Kolkata’s central business district, PTI reported on Saturday.
Citing an official order from Friday, the news agency reported that the action was taken after the police received inputs about possible violent demonstrations.
The order came ahead of the counting of votes for the Assembly elections on Monday.
Polling was held in the state in two phases on April 23 and April 29. Repolling was being held on Saturday at 15 polling stations in the South 24 Parganas district that voted in the second phase of the elections.
On Thursday, tensions erupted in Kolkata after leaders from the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress alleged a lack of transparency and possible malpractice at the strongrooms housing sealed Electronic Voting Machines used during polling.
The police stated on Friday that it had received information from credible sources “that violent demonstrations are likely to take place, resulting in large-scale disturbances of the public tranquillity and breach of the peace” in areas under the Bowbazar and Hare Street police stations, as well as the Headquarters Traffic Guard zone, PTI reported.
It added that authorities were “of the opinion that there is sufficient cause” to restrict public gatherings in the interest of preventing any disturbance. The restrictions will remain in force from May 3 to July 1, or until further notice.
The order prohibits rallies, processions or demonstrations in the specified areas.
Events on Thursday
On Thursday, the TMC alleged that the Election Commission was colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party to commit electoral fraud by tampering with the EVMs used in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Security camera videos had “exposed” how the BJP, “in active collusion” with the poll panel, was opening ballot boxes without the presence of representatives of political parties, the TMC alleged on social media.
A video posted online by the TMC on Thursday purportedly showed persons, whose identity was unclear, sifting through papers.
TMC leaders Shashi Panja and Kunal Ghosh also began a sit-in protest outside the Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, which is being used as a strongroom to store EVMs used in the polls.
Later in the night, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went to another strongroom where voting machines from her Bhabanipur constituency are being stored. Banerjee told reporters that she had been at the spot for four hours “to keep a vigil”.
“At the Netaji Indoor Stadium, we have seen EVMs being opened,” The Indian Express quoted her as having added. “So, I visited here because I wanted to check. Initially, they stopped us. But later, the RO [returning officer] allowed me to enter. I will ensure that votes are not captured forcibly in a democratic set-up. This is our area. I could have brought thousands here. I did not.”
The party alleged that the BJP and the Election Commission had “attempted a midnight heist” at the strongroom and “to tamper with EVMs”.
“Any attempt at tampering will face the wrath of the people,” TMC said on social media. “Heed this warning. Bengal will not be looted.”
However, Chief Election Officer Manoj Agarwal denied the allegations, saying that nothing had been done that was not in the poll panel’s statutory procedure.
“The allegation that came is baseless,” The Indian Express quoted Agarwal as saying. “Even after that, we are seeking a report. If anyone breaches the legal procedure, stern action will be taken.”
North Kolkata District Election Officer Smita Pandey said that all EVMs “are perfectly sealed and closed in the strong room” and the security camera videos of that were available.
A day after the allegations of voter fraud, the police banned all gatherings in seven areas where votes are to be counted.
The prohibitory orders were enforced in Sahid Kshudiram Bose Road, Judge’s Court Road, Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour Road, Lord Sinha Hall, Naresh Mitra Sarani (Beltala Road) and Pramathesh Barua Sarani.
The police also said that security arrangements had been enhanced around the strongrooms where EVMs are being stored.
Read Scroll’s coverage of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections here.
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