Proposed West Bengal Anti-Goonda Bill Explained: Who Can Be Detained for a Year Without Trial and Why | Today’s news

The newly installed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal is poised to introduce two bills and bills in the Assembly that would significantly expand the state’s powers to fight organized crime and public riots.

The proposed laws, which promise to crack down on syndicates, extortion and political violence, have already raised concerns about civil liberties and executive overreach, news agency PTI reported.

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The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026 and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Act, 2026 were to be introduced in the West Bengal Assembly on Monday.

The first bill basically widens the definition of “anti-social activity” and empowers authorities to order people to be detained without trial for up to 12 months if they are deemed to be a threat to public safety. It also criminalises harboring or assisting persons against whom detention or deportation orders have been issued.

Defining Goondas

The proposed legislation broadly defines “goondas” to include habitual offenders, members of organized crime groups and those involved in activities ranging from extortion and land grabbing to illegal mining, natural resource smuggling and offenses under various arms, narcotics and explosives laws.

It further grants the police extensive powers of search, seizure and arrest, with offenses under the Act to be cognizable and non-compensable.

The second bill seeks to amend the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1972 by introducing a mechanism for recovery of compensation for damages caused during riots, arson, violent protests and public disturbances.

Under the proposal, the Damages Commission would assess losses suffered by both government agencies and private individuals. Compensation could be obtained not only from those directly involved in the violence, but also from alleged organizers, financiers, instigators and those accused of providing logistical support.

Failure to pay can lead to debt enforcement akin to land revenue collection, while offenders’ property can be seized and auctioned off to pay fees.

“The aim is simple – restore law and order, break organized crime ecosystems and make those who destroy public property pay. Law-abiding citizens have nothing to fear,” a senior BJP leader said, according to PTI.

Timing is significant

The timing of the legislation is politically significant. Since coming to office, the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has repeatedly claimed to have inherited a state where syndicate operations, extortion networks, illegal sand mining and politically-backed musclemen were deeply entrenched in local power structures.

Several BJP leaders have cited incidents of attacks on police stations, government offices and law enforcement personnel in recent years to justify the need for stronger legal instruments.

However, the opposition sees something more meaningful. Leaders of both factions of the divided TMC accused the government of trying to arm the administration with extraordinary powers that could be used against political opponents, social activists and protest movements.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra recently described the proposed laws as some of the toughest legislation in the state in a decade, comparing them to the controversial preventive detention and national security laws.

What does the law say against goons?

The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026 states that if a District Magistrate, Commissioner of Police or a police officer not below the rank of DIG authorized by the State Government fears that a “goonda; is or will be involved in anti-social activities, they may ban such persons from entering a specified “area, district or districts” for a period not exceeding one year.

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The provision says that the executive power of the state may “order such person to remove himself out of such territory, district or districts, or part thereof, as may be specified in the order, for such time as may be therein specified, and prohibit him from entering or returning to such space for a period not exceeding one year; and require such person to report his movements or to report in such manner, at such time and to such office as may be specified.”

The bill also expanded the definitions of “anti-social activity” and “goonda”.

What is anti-social activity?

The bill defines it as an act that directly or indirectly causes or is likely to cause:

(i) alarm, danger, fear or uncertainty among the general public or any section thereof.

ii) serious or widespread danger to life, person or property.

iii) disturbance of public order or public peace.

(iv) obstructing the lawful exercise of any right or any lawful business, trade, profession or calling.

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(v) unlawfully dispossessing any person of any movable or immovable property

(vi) material loss or damage to public or private property; or (vi) any illegal activity related to mining, quarrying, sand mining, forest products or wildlife causing substantial loss to the exchequer.

who is goonda

According to the proposed law, a “goonda” is a person who:

(i) Either alone or as a member or leader of a group, gang or syndicate habitually commits, attempts to commit, promotes, promotes, finances or facilitates anti-social activities.

(ii) has been charged with an offense punishable under section 111 or section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, 2023

(iii) Commits, attempts to commit, incites, promotes, finances or aids any offense punishable under the Arms Act 1959, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 1985, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 or the Explosives Act 1908.

The goal is simple – restore public order, disrupt organized crime ecosystems and make those who destroy public property pay.

(iv) is generally considered desperate and dangerous to the community.