Arrest of Nandigram Congress candidate lawful step: West Bengal Police
West Bengal police have arrested a Congress candidate in Nandigram for 19-year-old criminal charges, including murder and rioting. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has condemned the arrest as political revenge, while the police maintain it is a lawful execution of long-pending warrants.
Why it matters
The arrest highlights escalating political tensions and allegations of state-sponsored targeting of opposition figures during election cycles in India.
West Bengal police officials on Saturday (September 19, 2026) said that the arrest of the Nandigram Congress candidate on Friday (September 18) was a lawful step for the police. The cases against him are 19 years old, and some also include murder and attempt to murder charges.
“Milan Pradhan was arrested in four cases dating back to 2007 during the Nandigram protests. Some of the charges include murder, attempt to murder, abduction with intent to murder, causing disappearance of evidence, house trespass, rioting with arms and deadly weapons,” an official statement from the West Bengal police said.
“Execution of long-pending non-bailable warrants is a standing instruction of the Election Commission of India in respect of all elections/bye-elections. The arrest of Shri Pradhan is a lawful step towards compliance with the same during the course of an ongoing special drive,” the police statement said.
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3 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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