The West Bengal Police on Friday arrested All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Mofakkerul Islam, who is accused of leading protests in Malda on Wednesday that led to gherao of seven Special Intensive Revision (SIR) officers for over nine hours.
Islam, an advocate by profession and the AIMIM candidate from Itahar in the 2021 West Bengal Assembly polls, is being described as the mastermind behind the Malda incident and was arrested at Bagdogra Airport as he attempted to flee the state.
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Seven judicial officers overseeing the SIR process for poll-bound West Bengal were held hostage for more than nine hours on Wednesday after a large protest erupted outside the Kaliachak II Block Development Office (BDO).
WHY WERE SIR OFFICERS TAKEN HOSTAGE?
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise by the Election Commission in West Bengal has become a major flashpoint ahead of the assembly polls.
The final voters’ list after the SIR process recorded over 63 lakh deletions, while another 60 lakh voters were placed “under adjudication.”
Judicial officers were tasked with reviewing these adjudication cases to determine whether the voters should be retained or removed from the rolls, following Supreme Court directions.
On Wednesday, protesters initially requested a meeting with the officers, which was denied, and by around 4 pm, they gheraoed the BDO office, taking all seven officers, including three women, hostage.
A five-year-old child of one of the officers was also present inside the office.
The officers were rescued only after nine hours, around midnight, by a police team. During the evacuation, protesters hurled stones at the police van. Social media visuals showed shattered car windows and protesters chasing the police vehicles as the officers were escorted to safety.
SC RAPS BENGAL OFFICIALS OVER INCIDENT
The incident reached the Supreme Court on Thursday morning. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi criticised the Bengal government, calling it a “criminal failure.”
The court also reprimanded the state chief secretary, DGP, Superintendent of Police, and the Malda district collector. Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that officers were released only after intervention from the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
The bench described West Bengal as “the most polarised state,” saying politics had overshadowed even compliance with court orders.
“This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenges authority of this court We have never seen such a polarised state,” the Chief Justice said.
The Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to deploy central forces to protect judicial officers, including at their residences, and ordered that the investigation be handed over to central agencies.
“We direct ECI to entrust the enquiry/investigation into the incident to either the CBI or NIA. The compliance report shall be submitted to this court,” the bench said.
ACTION TAKEN
Additionally, the Chief Justice instructed the police to limit entry to the BDO premises, where adjudication work is ongoing, to no more than three to five people at a time.
The court also summoned the chief secretary, DGP, and the district magistrate to appear on April 6 and show cause why action should not be taken against them for the lapse in handling the situation.
– Ends
Published By:
Karishma Saurabh Kalita
Published On:
Apr 3, 2026 10:27 IST
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