Bengal bypoll: AJUP chief Humayun Kabir detained in Rejinagar after verbal altercation with police

Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir engages in an argument with police personnel before being detained over alleged police interference during the Assembly by-election in Rejinagar, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, on October 6, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir was detained on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) after a verbal altercation with police personnel at his party office in West Bengal's Rejinagar, where voting for the Assembly byelection was under way.Mr. Kabir, who had been attacking the police since morning over the deployment of security personnel near his residence and at polling booths, was detained shortly after he cast his vote with his family.Byelections 2026 LIVE updates - October 6, 2026The police reached the AUJP office in Rejinagar and told him that he cannot be present in the office in view of polling day.A heated argument broke out between the AJUP chief and police personnel, with the political leader accusing them of "dalali" (partisanship). “Do not work as their middleman. Do not do vote chori. You are doing work for the thieves. I will not go home,” Mr. Kabir was heard saying in the video.The situation escalated into a scuffle, following which police personnel pulled Mr. Kabir by his shirt and took him to a vehicle. He was then taken to the Rejinagar Police Station.JUST IN | Aam Janata Unnayan Party chief Humayun Kabir detained, taken away from their party office in Rejinagar in Murshidabad in police vehicle. He had a verbal altercation with the police before being detained. During the verbal altercation police had told him he cannot be there because it is polling day. "Do not work as their middleman. Do not do vote chori. You are doing work for the thieves. I will not go home," said Kabir. He has been taken to the Rejinagar Police Station. - @Shrabanawrites reports 🎥 Special Arrangement Catch the live updates here: https://t.co/4JgZNMX5HR— The Hindu (@the_hindu) October 6, 2026Mr. Kabir had been vocal against the police from the beginning of polling on Tuesday (October 6, 2026). While going to cast his vote, he alleged that a large police deployment had been stationed outside his residence.After casting his vote, he continued to target the police and alleged that the force was being used to intimidate voters.The bypoll was necessitated after the Rejinagar seat in Murshidabad district fell vacant when Mr. Kabir, who won both Rejinagar and Nowda in the 2026 assembly election, retained Nowda.The AJUP has fielded his son Golam Nabi Azad. The contest includes BJP nominee Sakharav Sarkar, former Murshidabad district president, Mamata-led TMC candidate Rabiul Alam Chowdhury, rival TMC candidate Safiuzzaman Sheikh; Congress nominee Mohammad Abdullahil Kafi and CPI(M)’s Syed Asad Ali.Polling for the Nadigram assembly seat was also under way.With PTI inputs Published - October 06, 2026 10:52 am IST