Kolkata, Jul 13 (PTI) West Bengal’s anti-goonda law came into force on Monday, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari framing it as a tool to dismantle “34 years of communist harmads” and “15 years of TMC goons”, while the opposition, and sections of the ruling camp warned its sweeping powers could be vulnerable to misuse.
The TMC, when it was in the opposition, used the term ‘harmad’ to describe armed goons of the CPI(M) which, along with other Left parties, ruled West Bengal from 1977 to 2011. The Mamata Banerjee-led party then wrested power and governed the state till the BJP ousted it earlier this year.
The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, came into force on Monday, two weeks after it was passed in the Assembly through a voice vote, substantially expanding the state’s powers to tackle organised crime, extortion, illegal mining, cybercrime and public disorder.
Calling the law necessary, Adhikari sought to place it within a larger political narrative of restoring law and order after successive governments.
“This law was essential to deal with 34 years of communist harmads and 15 years of Trinamool goons,” the chief minister said, making it clear that the legislation was aimed at dismantling entrenched criminal-politician networks rather than targeting ordinary political workers.
The remarks came three days after Adhikari had announced in Baruipur that the legislation would become operational from July 13.
The legislation considerably broadens the definition of “goonda” and “anti-social activity”, bringing within its ambit habitual offenders, organised criminal syndicates, extortionists, land grabbers, those engaged in illegal sand mining and unauthorised mining operations, smugglers of natural resources, and persons involved in serious cybercrime and financial fraud.
One of its most significant provisions empowers the administration to order preventive detention for up to 12 months without trial if authorities believe an individual poses a threat to public safety or is preparing to commit organised anti-social offences.
District magistrates, police commissioners and officers of DIG rank or above have also been empowered to issue externment orders directing alleged habitual offenders to leave a locality or even an entire district for up to one year.
The law further makes offences under its ambit cognisable and non-bailable, authorises police to arrest without warrant, and allows attachment and confiscation of properties allegedly acquired through organised criminal activities such as syndicate operations, extortion and land grabbing.
Officials said the legislation also seeks to curb violence during protests by working alongside amendments to the state’s public order law, under which a claims commission will recover the cost of damage to public and private property from those found responsible for riots or violent agitations.
During the Assembly debate on June 29, Adhikari had cited large-scale destruction of public property during the anti-CAA protests of December 2019, recalling attacks on railway stations, police establishments and government buses, to argue that existing legal provisions had failed to ensure accountability and adequate deterrence.
The BJP, which has consistently accused the previous Trinamool government of institutionalising syndicate culture, extortion and political violence, described the implementation of the law as a decisive break from the past.
“The message is clear: miscreants and goons will no longer escape accountability. This Act is set to dismantle the loopholes, criminal networks and political patronage that earlier allowed habitual offenders to get away with crime. The days of securing quick bail and returning to threaten citizens are over,” BJP state chief spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said.
The legislation, however, has also generated concerns across the political spectrum over the sweeping preventive powers vested in the executive.
Senior TMC MP Babul Supriyo of the Mamata Banerjee-led camp welcomed the objective behind the law but underlined that its implementation should remain free from political bias.
“It is a very good thing. I have always said that those who have committed theft, whoever they are, should go to jail. Those who indulge in hooliganism should also face action. But there should be no misuse of the anti-rowdy policy,” he said.
Senior TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh questioned the need for a separate state legislation after the Centre had already overhauled the criminal justice framework through the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and related laws.
“We are all against anti-socials and goons. But first there was the IPC and CrPC, and then the new criminal laws. Was there a gap in the new laws? Why was this Bill needed? There are provisions here that open another dangerous side. If someone is detained, there are serious concerns regarding legal safeguards,” Ghosh said.
The Ritabrata Banerjee-led rebel TMC camp, which had opposed the Bill during its passage in the Assembly, adopted a more restrained position.
Rebel TMC MLA Sandipan Saha said the legislation should be implemented strictly for its intended purpose and “not for political gain”.
Political observers said the law marks one of the most far-reaching expansions of executive policing powers in West Bengal in recent decades.
Critics argue that provisions permitting preventive detention without trial and expanded executive discretion could become contentious if allegations of political misuse arise.
With syndicate operations, land grabbing, extortion and politically linked violence remaining recurring themes in West Bengal’s political discourse across successive governments, the implementation of the law is expected to shape not only the state’s law-and-order narrative but also the broader political contest over governance, civil liberties and accountability in the run-up to future elections. PTI PNT NN
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