The political atmosphere surrounding the West Bengal Assembly Elections is steadily intensifying, even as fresh security concerns emerge on the eve of key campaign events. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch his election campaign from North Bengal this Sunday, with preparations for his rally at the Ras Mela Ground in Cooch Behar nearing completion.
However, a late-night operation by the Border Security Force (BSF) has triggered alarm within administrative circles. During a routine checkpoint inspection in the Changrabandha area of the district, BSF personnel detained two individuals whose movements were deemed suspicious. A subsequent search led to the seizure of six country-made pistols and 20 rounds of ammunition. The accused were later handed over to the police.
According to preliminary police inputs, the suspects were allegedly transporting the weapons from the direction of Mekhliganj and came under BSF scrutiny around 2:30 am. Authorities have not yet determined the motive behind the transportation of the arms, nor whether the incident is linked to any larger conspiracy. A detailed investigation has been initiated. The timing of the seizure—just hours before the Prime Minister’s rally—has added to the seriousness of the development.
In a separate incident on Saturday, a drone sighting in Malda caused a major security scare. The drone was spotted hovering in front of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s helicopter in the Malatipur area around noon, moments before her scheduled takeoff.
The Chief Minister briefly halted proceedings and expressed strong displeasure over the apparent breach. She directed the police to immediately investigate the lapse and identify those responsible, stressing that any compromise in security protocol would not be tolerated.
Soon after, three people were detained in connection with the incident. Although they reportedly possessed valid identification and permits, authorities are questioning their decision to operate the drone in such close proximity to a high-security movement. Police have registered cases against the accused under multiple sections, including criminal conspiracy, negligence causing potential danger, and providing misleading information.
With investigations underway in both cases, the twin incidents have raised pressing concerns about security preparedness ahead of the elections. The recovery of illegal arms prior to a high-profile rally, coupled with a drone breach near the Chief Minister’s helicopter, has emerged as a significant challenge for the administration in ensuring a secure electoral environment.
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