Controversy Erupts as Congress Candidate Arrested Ahead of Nandigram By-Election

Arrest of Milan Pradhan Raises Eyebrows

Kolkata: Milan Pradhan, the Congress candidate for the Nandigram by-election, has been detained due to his alleged involvement in multiple serious offenses, including rioting and murder, stemming from incidents during the 2007 anti-land acquisition protests. Authorities confirmed he will appear in court on Saturday.

In response to Pradhan's arrest, the Congress party plans to hold a rally in Kolkata to voice their opposition.

Pradhan was taken into custody at a hotel in Chandipur, located in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur district, alongside fellow party member Subhasish Bhattacharya, who was arrested for allegedly obstructing police efforts to detain Pradhan.

The police reported that Pradhan's arrest is linked to four cases from 2007, which involve serious charges such as murder and criminal intimidation. These cases were filed at both Nandigram and Khejuri police stations and include violations of the Indian Penal Code and the Arms Act.

According to the West Bengal Police, Pradhan had been evading capture since 2007 and was subject to several non-bailable warrants that had not been executed until now.

The police emphasized that this arrest is part of a broader initiative to enforce outstanding non-bailable warrants, a directive from the Election Commission of India during election periods.

This development comes shortly after former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her party's support for Congress in the upcoming Nandigram bypoll, following the withdrawal of her candidate.

State Congress president Subhankar Sarkar expressed confusion regarding the reasons behind Pradhan's arrest, stating that they were unaware of the circumstances surrounding it.

Sarkar noted that while they were informed of a murder charge against Pradhan, the lack of clarity on the matter was troubling. He also mentioned that even inquiries made to a senior Election Commission official yielded no information.

The police have not provided a clear rationale for Pradhan's detention, which has raised questions, especially given the ongoing model code of conduct in Nandigram.

Sarkar criticized Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, suggesting that the police were compelled to arrest Pradhan due to fears from the BJP about losing the election.

He asserted that Pradhan is a well-liked candidate in Nandigram, and the BJP's actions reflect their declining relevance in the political landscape.