March 17, 2026 : Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, the Election Commission has taken a strict and unusual step by directing all police stations across the state to submit detailed reports on the law and order situation in their respective jurisdictions by next Thursday.

These reports must include information on the availability of illegal weapons, identified antisocial elements, and recent crime data. The Commission has made it clear that the officer-in-charge of each police station will be held accountable for maintaining a crime-free environment in their area. Failure to do so may invite disciplinary action.

State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal stated that the Commission will extend full support to the police, including deployment of central paramilitary forces, to ensure peaceful conditions across all polling areas.

The Commission has also warned that any incidents of unrest during voting will lead to strict action against the concerned police officials. At the same time, central forces have been instructed to operate strictly within legal boundaries. Any misuse of authority will not be tolerated.

In the event of disturbances at polling booths, central forces will be responsible for restoring order. However, if found negligent, they too will face disciplinary measures.