West Bengal: ADG law and order directs review of all 2021 election violence complaints

New Delhi, May 13, 2026 : In West Bengal, following the change of government, the state Police has adopted a stringent stance regarding law and order and past cases of political violence. In this regard, ADG, Law and Order issued a detailed directive yesterday to all Police Commissioners, Police Superintendents, and Railway Police authorities, mandating a series of immediate actions.

The directive orders a fresh review of all cases related to violence following the 2021 Assembly elections, including those where final reports have already been submitted. Authorities have been instructed to reopen and conduct thorough investigations into cases where previous probes were found to be negligent. Furthermore, all General Diaries (GDs) and complaints filed during that period must be re-examined, with instructions to register new cases if preliminary evidence of a crime is found. These investigations are to be personally supervised by District SPs and Police Commissioners.

Simultaneously, the state police has ordered a physical verification of all arms and ammunition stored in police station armouries to be completed by Friday. This will be followed by a two-week special drive to recover illegal arms, ammunition, and explosives.

The directive also emphasises a crackdown on cross-border smuggling and crime through regular border meetings and intelligence sharing. Additionally, strict action has been ordered against illegal cattle markets, slaughterhouses, and unauthorised mining, ensuring that legitimate businesses are protected from local miscreants or extortionists. Measures to enforce the animal slaughter control law and improve traffic management, specifically helmet compliance, were also highlighted.