KOLKATA: An independent candidate for the Rejinagar assembly bypoll in West Bengal was arrested in connection with a five-year-old case involving a clash between two groups during the 2021 state elections, police said.The arrest of Saiful Islam came a day after the Congress‘ Nandigram bypoll nominee Milan Pradhan was arrested in an almost two-decade-old case linked to an agitation against land acquisition.Islam, who is associated with the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) led by Humayun Kabir, was arrested on September 19, police said.The two bypolls, scheduled for October 6, were necessitated after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari vacated the Nandigram seat, which he had won alongside Bhabanipur, while Rejinagar fell vacant after Kabir retained Nawda after winning both seats in the 2026 assembly elections.“Officials from Berhampore police station arrested Saiful Islam in connection with a case dating back to the previous assembly election, when a clash had broken out between two groups,” an officer told PTI.Police had also sent a notice to AJUP chief Humayun Kabir on Saturday, directing him to appear before investigating officers on Monday in a case registered over an alleged conspiracy to foment tension between two communities.A senior officer said the case was registered on September 14, after police recently released an audio recording during a press conference in Berhampore.Police claimed the conversation indicated a possible conspiracy to instigate tension between two communities.Meanwhile, AJUP state secretary Ashik Iqbal was arrested on Friday during vehicle checking at a police picket in Murshidabad district with a large quantity of fake currency and illegal arms, officials said.(With PTI inputs)
