Aide of Trinamool's 'Pushpa' Jehangir Khan arrested over post-poll threats
West Bengal Police arrested Israfil Chakdar, a close aide of TMC leader Jehangir Khan, on Wednesday night. The arrest followed protests and repeated allegations of post-poll threats and intimidation in Falta.
Israfil Chakdar, a close aide of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jehangir Khan, was arrested by the West Bengal Police on Wednesday night. He is expected to be produced before the Diamond Harbour Court on Thursday.
Chakdar had been accused by local residents, particularly women from Falta’s Hashim Nagar area, of creating fear and allegedly threatening people door-to-door along with his associates after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Protests demanding his arrest were staged in the area following the polls. Despite repeated allegations, Chakdar had reportedly been absconding for several days before his arrest.
Local residents, during the elections, had accused Chakdar and other TMC workers of threatening violence if the party failed to return to power in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Speaking to ANI, a woman from the area alleged that Chakdar had threatened residents if the BJP emerged victorious."TMC's Israfil Chowkidar has threatened us that if these people (the BJP) win, they will burn our houses here and carry out bloodshed," said the woman.
Another woman claimed that despite voting for the TMC, she and others were allegedly attacked and intimidated by party workers.
The residents had demanded Chakdar’s arrest and sought protection, especially for women in the area.
The Falta Assembly constituency remained in the spotlight throughout the West Bengal Assembly elections amid repeated allegations of electoral irregularities. Traditionally considered a stronghold of the All India Trinamool Congress since 2011, several booths in the constituency came under scrutiny during the 2026 polls following complaints of malpractice and voter intimidation. The BJP had accused the then ruling party workers of large-scale electoral misconduct in the area.
In the subsequent repoll, BJP candidate Debangshu Panda registered a landslide victory, defeating TMC’s Jahangir Khan by a record margin of 1.09 lakh votes. Khan, despite withdrawing from the contest before polling, remained on the ballot paper during the repoll.
Israfil Chakdar, a close aide of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jehangir Khan, was arrested by the West Bengal Police on Wednesday night. He is expected to be produced before the Diamond Harbour Court on Thursday.
Chakdar had been accused by local residents, particularly women from Falta’s Hashim Nagar area, of creating fear and allegedly threatening people door-to-door along with his associates after the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Protests demanding his arrest were staged in the area following the polls. Despite repeated allegations, Chakdar had reportedly been absconding for several days before his arrest.
Local residents, during the elections, had accused Chakdar and other TMC workers of threatening violence if the party failed to return to power in the West Bengal Assembly elections.
Speaking to ANI, a woman from the area alleged that Chakdar had threatened residents if the BJP emerged victorious."TMC's Israfil Chowkidar has threatened us that if these people (the BJP) win, they will burn our houses here and carry out bloodshed," said the woman.
Another woman claimed that despite voting for the TMC, she and others were allegedly attacked and intimidated by party workers.
The residents had demanded Chakdar’s arrest and sought protection, especially for women in the area.
The Falta Assembly constituency remained in the spotlight throughout the West Bengal Assembly elections amid repeated allegations of electoral irregularities. Traditionally considered a stronghold of the All India Trinamool Congress since 2011, several booths in the constituency came under scrutiny during the 2026 polls following complaints of malpractice and voter intimidation. The BJP had accused the then ruling party workers of large-scale electoral misconduct in the area.
In the subsequent repoll, BJP candidate Debangshu Panda registered a landslide victory, defeating TMC’s Jahangir Khan by a record margin of 1.09 lakh votes. Khan, despite withdrawing from the contest before polling, remained on the ballot paper during the repoll.
