Congress members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs have sought a review of the conduct of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in West Bengal following the 2026 Assembly elections, along with alleged police action against opposition workers and supporters.
In a letter dated September 29 to committee chairman Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Congress MP Ajay Maken requested that the issue be taken up at the committee’s next meeting.
The party also sought a discussion on the alleged use of pellet guns by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) against protesting students at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in July.
The demand comes amid continuing political allegations over post-poll violence in West Bengal and the deployment and functioning of central security forces.
Congress Seeks Review of CAPF Conduct in Bengal
The Congress has backed a proposal earlier raised by Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien, who sought a parliamentary discussion on the role of CAPF in alleged police excesses and violence in West Bengal.
O’Brien had written to the committee chairman on September 23, raising concerns over the conduct of security personnel and alleged targeting of TMC workers and supporters after the Assembly election results were declared on May 4.
In its letter, the Congress said O’Brien’s demand should be considered alongside its own concerns regarding the use of force by police authorities.
The party called for an examination of how forces under the Union Home Ministry exercise their powers and the command structures governing their deployment.
Allegations of Police Action Against Opposition Workers
The Congress letter alleged that more than 70 Trinamool Congress leaders had been taken into custody following the election results.
It also referred to reports of custodial deaths involving TMC workers and sought scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding these incidents.
The allegations come amid political tensions in West Bengal following the change in government.
The Congress has argued that the parliamentary committee should examine the conduct of security forces and police authorities to establish accountability.
Demand for Discussion on Jantar Mantar Pellet Gun Incident
Maken also sought a discussion on the alleged use of pellet guns against students protesting at Jantar Mantar in July.
The protest was associated with concerns over the NEET-UG examination paper leak.
According to the Congress letter, committee chairman Agarwal had assured members on August 25 that the issue of alleged pellet gun use would be examined.
However, the party said the discussion had not yet taken place.
The Congress has requested that the committee examine the relevant police diary entries and ammunition records to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Congress Questions CAPF General Administration Act, 2026
The party also sought a review of the CAPF (General Administration) Act, 2026, which was enacted on April 9.
Congress members argued that the legislation was not referred to the parliamentary standing committee before its passage and that its provisions had not received detailed examination by a parliamentary committee.
The party raised concerns over changes to the command structure of the central armed forces.
According to the Congress, the law reserves 50 per cent of Inspector General posts and at least 67 per cent of Additional Director General posts for deputation, while making the positions of Special Director General and Director General deputation-only.
The party also questioned provisions concerning the precedence of rules made under the Act over other rules or orders.
CAPF Deployment in West Bengal After Elections
The issue of central force deployment has remained a major point of political discussion in West Bengal.
Derek O’Brien had stated that more than 2.4 lakh CAPF personnel were deployed during the 2026 Assembly elections.
He also claimed that over 700 companies, comprising approximately 70,000 personnel, continued to remain in the state after the results to prevent post-poll violence.
The TMC MP alleged that opposition workers and supporters were disproportionately affected by incidents of violence.
These claims have formed part of the demand for a parliamentary examination of the role of central forces.
Parliamentary Committee Asked to Take Up Both Issues
The Congress has urged the committee chairman to club the Bengal-related concerns with the proposed discussion on police standard operating procedures.
The party wants the next meeting to examine the alleged use of force in West Bengal, the Jantar Mantar incident and the provisions of the CAPF General Administration Act.
The demand places the functioning of central security forces and police accountability before the parliamentary committee.
The committee’s decision on the proposed discussions is awaited.