Bangladesh’s ‘July protests participant’ found on West Bengal voter roll

A man who reportedly took part in Bangladesh’s July protests in 2024 has been listed as a registered voter in India’s West Bengal, according to The Hindu, fuelling political controversy over electoral “irregularities” in the state.

The young man, identified as Newton Das, appears on the voter roll for the Kakdwip constituency near the Sundarbans, a mangrove region that straddles the India-Bangladesh border.

Despite several photos circulating on social media showing Newton actively participating in the Bangladesh protests that led to a shift in political power, he claims Indian citizenship, although he does not deny being present at the demonstrations.

In a video message, Newton said: “I went to Bangladesh in 2024 for issues related to an ancestral property and got caught in the revolution.

“I have been a voter in Kakdwip since 2014 but lost my voter card in 2017. In 2018, I got a fresh voter card with the help of local MLA Manturam Pakhira.”

According to The Hindu, Newton also said he voted for Pakhira, the Trinamool Congress legislator from Kakdwip, in the 2016 assembly election.

He, however, did not clarify whether he is currently residing in India or Bangladesh.

Newton’s cousin, Tapan Das, said Newton was born in Bangladesh and votes in both countries.

The Hindu noted that this statement contradicts Newton’s claims.

“He [Newton] had come here after the pandemic for selling some land and since then, he has not come here. Since he was born in Bangladesh, he is a voter of Bangladesh too. It is his fault that he is registered as a voter in both the countries,” Tapan said.

The incident has triggered political heat in West Bengal.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of enabling Bangladeshis to be registered as voters in the state.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari claimed that “millions of Bangladeshis are now voters in West Bengal.”

Adhikari also alleged that Saad Sheikh, a member of the banned Bangladeshi militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team, had once been listed in the Murshidabad district’s voter roll.

West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar described Newton’s case as “another shining example of the “so-called Egiye Bangla Model” in a social media post.

“The same Newton who was seen wielding a stick during Bangladesh’s quota reform movement is now a registered voter in Kakdwip,” he said.

Majumdar accused the Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of nurturing an “illegal infiltration industry”.

In response, Trinamool leaders pointed to the Border Security Force (BSF) and government as the authorities responsible for guarding international borders and preventing illegal entry.

“Whether these people come from land, water or air, the BSF and Union government are responsible. The State administration will do its role for sure,” Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh said.

Earlier in February, Mamata raised concerns over irregularities in the state’s voter list, claiming that electoral photo identity card (EPIC) numbers of voters from other states were matching those in West Bengal.

BJP leaders had countered the claim, alleging that Bangladeshi citizens were included in West Bengal’s voter lists with the backing of the ruling party.