Mofakkerul Islam, a leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), was arrested at Bagdogra Airport for allegedly orchestrating the violent protest in Malda that resulted in seven judicial officers being held hostage. Authorities claim he played a central role in mobilising the demonstration that escalated into a prolonged standoff.
According to the West Bengal Police, a total of 18 individuals have been detained so far in connection with the incident. Islam, who is also a practicing advocate and had previously contested the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections from Itahar, was apprehended while reportedly attempting to leave the state. Investigators have described him as the key conspirator behind the unrest.
Visual evidence from the protest shows Islam confronting senior administrative officials, including the district magistrate and superintendent of police, defiantly. Despite the allegations, AIMIM has confirmed that he remains associated with the party. The Inspector General of North Bengal stated that further raids are ongoing and that the investigation is being closely supervised at the highest level.
The probe into the incident has now been handed over to the National Investigation Agency, which has taken charge of examining the events that unfolded in Malda’s Kaliachak area. Senior IPS officer Sonia Singh has arrived in Kolkata to lead the investigation.
The incident occurred when seven judicial officers, assigned to oversee the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, were surrounded and confined for over nine hours at the Kaliachak II Block Development Office. Among those trapped were three women officers, along with a five-year-old child who was present with one of them.
The unrest was triggered by tensions surrounding the SIR exercise conducted by the Election Commission, which led to the deletion of over 63 lakh names from voter lists, while approximately 60 lakh cases were kept under review. Judicial officers had been tasked with verifying these disputed entries in compliance with directions from the Supreme Court.
The situation escalated when protesters, initially seeking a meeting with the officials, were denied access. By late afternoon, the crowd laid siege to the office, effectively holding the officers hostage. The police managed to rescue them close to midnight after a prolonged operation. During the evacuation, protesters reportedly attacked police vehicles with stones, damaging them and attempting to obstruct the rescue.
The matter was taken up by the Supreme Court the following day, where a bench led by Surya Kant strongly criticised the West Bengal administration. The court described the incident as a serious breakdown of law and order and questioned the failure of senior officials, including the chief secretary, the Director General of Police, and the district authorities.
The bench observed that the episode reflected extreme political polarisation in the state and amounted to an attempt to intimidate judicial officers, thereby undermining the authority of the court. It further noted that the officers were released only after intervention from the Calcutta High Court.
In response, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to ensure enhanced security for judicial officers by deploying central forces, including protection at their residences. It also ordered that the investigation be handled by a central agency such as the NIA or CBI and sought a compliance report.
Additionally, the court imposed restrictions on access to the Block Development Office, allowing only a limited number of individuals to enter at a time while adjudication work continues. Senior state officials have been summoned to appear before the court on April 6 to explain the lapses and clarify why action should not be taken against them for their handling of the situation.
