Kolkata, Jul 13 (UNI) Defending the implementation of West Bengal's new anti-organised crime law, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said the legislation was "the need of the hour" to curb what he described as decades of political violence and criminality in the state.
"For 34 years, Bengal was ruled by Communist harmads and for the next 15 years by Trinamool goondas. This law was essential to rein them in. We passed it in the Assembly, and the Governor has given his assent," Adhikari said after accompanying the BJP's three Rajya Sabha candidates to file their nomination papers.
His remarks came on a day when the state's new anti-organised crime legislation formally came into force, empowering police and district authorities with sweeping powers, including preventive detention, externment of habitual offenders, and confiscation of properties allegedly acquired through organised criminal activities.
The West Bengal government's new anti-organised crime legislation came into effect from Monday, empowering police and district authorities with sweeping powers, including preventive detention for up to one year, externment of habitual offenders, and confiscation of properties acquired through organised criminal activities.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the legislation's implementation during a visit to Baruipur on Friday.
The state headquarters in Nabanna said the law has been brought into force to further strengthen the state's law and order machinery and create a deterrent against organised crime and anti-social activities.
Officially titled the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, the legislation significantly expands the powers of the police and civil administration to curb organised criminal networks and habitual offenders.
One of the key provisions of the Act is preventive detention.
Under the new law, authorities can detain an individual without trial for up to 12 months if they believe the person poses a threat to public safety or is planning to commit a major anti-social or organised criminal offence.
Legal experts have compared the provision to those available under the Centre's National Security Act (NSA).
The Act also introduces "externment orders", allowing District Magistrates, Police Commissioners and officers of the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) or above to direct habitual offenders to leave a specified area or even an entire district for up to one year if their presence is considered likely to disturb public order.
The legislation further makes all offences under its ambit non-bailable. Police will be empowered to arrest accused persons without a warrant, making it more difficult for those charged under the Act to secure bail.
Another major provision authorises the government to confiscate assets and properties allegedly acquired through organised criminal activities, including syndicate operations and other unlawful enterprises.
The law also broadens the definition of "anti-social activities" and "goonda".
Activities covered under the Act include syndicate operations, extortion, forcible occupation of land and houses, illegal sand mining from rivers, unlawful mining activities, intimidation of the public that disrupts business or normal life, major cyber-crimes, and large-scale financial fraud.
Alongside the new law, the state will also operationalise the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Act, 2026, aimed at preventing damage to public and private property during protests and violent demonstrations.
The amendment provides for the establishment of a Claims Commission, which will assess losses caused during riots, violent protests, or public disturbances and recover compensation from those identified as responsible for the damage.
Piloting the Bill in the Assembly earlier this year, Adhikari referred to the violence during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in December 2019.
UNI SAG RSA