CBI, NIA take over probe after seven SIR judicial officers held hostage my mob in Bengal's Malda, 18 arrested

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday roped in the CBI and NIA after seven judicial officers engaged in the SIR exercise were held hostage by protesters in West Bengal Malda district. The development comes after the Supreme Court pulled up the Mamata Banerjee government over the incident, calling poll-bound Bengal the "most polarised" state. The top court had also ordered to initiate a probe by a central agency. 

The Supreme Court slammed the administration for its “complete failure” and inaction over the “deplorable" gherao and attack on officials during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voters’ list. Orders were also given to the EC for requisition of adequate Central forces and to deploy them at all locations where judicial officers are adjudicating objections.

So far, 18 people have been arrested in connection with the Kaliachak incident, while efforts are ongoing to trace others involved.

What happened in Malda?

The incident took place during the Special Intensive Revision exercise in the Kaliachak area of Malda district, where seven judicial officers were allegedly gheraoed by "anti-social elements” at a BDO office from around 3:30 pm on Wednesday. The hostage situation unfolded following allegations of large scale deletions from the voter list, stripping people of their voting rights. Protests were also held in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar against the SIR exercise.

According to officials, the officers were surrounded over allegations of deletion of names from the electoral rolls and were finally rescued by security forces around midnight the same day.

Political row erupts

The Malda incident has turned into a political slugfest with the BJP accusing the ruling TMC of orchestrating the whole fiasco at Mamata Banerjee's behest, with the chief minister hitting back at the Election Commission and the Centre.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the gherao of judicial officers and the violence in Malda’s Sujapur was "planned and organised" by the TMC under the leadership of Banerjee. Addressing a press conference, he claimed that the incident was orchestrated from the “top level” of the party in Kolkata, with local leader Sabina Yasmin allegedly executing the plan on the ground.

Banerjee, however, blamed the EC for "failing to protect" the judicial officers and alleged that Amit Shah was behind attempts to alter the state’s civil and police administration. "Everything is Shah’s conspiracy, I demand his resignation," she said.

Also read: 'BJP's game plan', says Mamata after SC raps Bengal govt over Malda incident