West Bengal’s Gunda Suppression Act Takes Effect
Collected Photo
The highly discussed Gunda Suppression Act comes into effect in West Bengal, India, starting Monday.
Recently, the West Bengal Public Safety (Control of Anti-Social Activities) Bill, 2026, and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026, were passed and sent for the Governor’s approval.
The new law said the administration can take action against any person on charges of riots, violent protests, anti-social activities, or potential disruption of public order. If deemed necessary, the individual can be kept in custody for a period of up to one year without trial.
Government sources claimed that the law has been introduced with the goal of maintaining law and order in the state, preventing damage to public and private property, and tackling organized criminal activities. According to the administration, it will play a crucial role in controlling the law and order situation.
However, opposition parties have been opposing the law from the very beginning. They alleged that under the guise of tackling anti-social elements, the law will be used as a tool to silence political opponents and will be used against minorities.
The opposition added that legal opportunities for the arrested person within the conventional judicial process have been limited, raising questions about civil rights.
