Bengali rights activist Garga Chatterjee arrested over alleged provocative remarks ahead of assembly polls

Allegations linked to EVM rumours

Chatterjee was accused of spreading rumours regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The Election Commission of India had lodged a complaint with the Cyber Crime Division of Kolkata Police, following which Chatterjee was arrested.

He will be produced before a court tomorrow.

Confrontation at counting centre

Chatterjee was reportedly chased away by locals after he reached one of the counting centres in Kolkata and questioned the authenticity of EVMs.

He had raised concerns over some EVMs becoming non-functional despite reportedly undergoing checks the previous night.

Chatterjee had also urged voters to verify VVPAT slips after casting their votes and cautioned that the poll body allegedly had certain plans. 

Known for strong political views

Chatterjee is known for his strong opinions on Bengali identity, federalism, language politics and caste issues.

He is widely active on social media platforms, particularly X and Facebook, where he comments on West Bengal politics, elections, governance and national issues.

Over the years, he has often courted controversy for his sharp political remarks and provocative statements.

Advocacy around Bengali identity

Chatterjee is also associated with advocacy surrounding Bengali linguistic and cultural identity.

He has participated in debates and discussions related to regional autonomy, representation and political rights in eastern India.

He has strongly opposed what he describes as the growing cultural imposition of states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and has also demanded reservation in jobs for residents of West Bengal.