West Bengal: 7 CAPF men face EC action for attending Iftar

BEHRAMPORE: Seven Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel deployed on election duty in Bengal have been sent out of the state for violating the model code of conduct by attending an Iftar gathering.

The incident took place in the first week of March in Samserganj, in Murshidabad district, an area that witnessed communal violence in April 2025. Of the seven personnel, three have been placed in CAPF custody under paramilitary regulations, two have been reprimanded and departmental proceedings have been initiated against the remaining two.




EC officials reiterated the blanket ban on CAPF personnel accepting invitations, gifts or hospitality during poll duty. "Such violations undermine the impartiality of forces deployed for free and fair polls," a senior EC source said.

According to sources, on March 8, seven jawans along with two policemen attended an Iftar hosted by local Trinamool neta Samim Sheikh, husband of Aliara Bibi, pradhan of Nimtita gram panchayat.

Modaswar Hossain, CPM's Dhulian area committee neta, said, "We have seen that Samim managed forces from Suti's Laxmikantapur to Samsherganj's Nimtita area and looted votes. It would be tough for EC to ensure free and fair polls."