Bengal CID Arrests AIMIM Candidate Moffakkerul Islam for Malda Violence
Malda/Bagdogra: In a significant breakthrough, the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) apprehended Moffakkerul Islam, the alleged prime instigator of the violent Malda protests, outside Bagdogra airport on Friday morning. The 43-year-old Calcutta High Court lawyer was captured minutes before he was scheduled to board a flight to Bengaluru along with an associate.
Violent Protests and Hostage Situation
The dramatic arrest comes in connection with Wednesday's violent demonstrations outside the Kaliachak Block Development Officer's office in Malda district. What began as a protest against the deletion of names from voters' lists quickly escalated into a dangerous confrontation.
"Islam is the principal conspirator and instigator in the demonstration and roadblocks. While citizens have the right to protest, violence will not be tolerated," stated K Jayraman, Inspector General of Police for North Bengal.
The situation turned particularly grave when a mob blocked roads, vandalized vehicles, and attacked police personnel. Most alarmingly, seven judicial officers were held hostage inside the BDO office for approximately nine hours, while an eighth official was confined within a vehicle.
Social Media Evidence and Arrest Details
Videos circulating on social media platforms purportedly show Islam addressing a large gathering while standing atop a car. In these recordings, he can be heard challenging senior administrative officials—including the District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, and Deputy Inspector General—to come to the protest site and disperse the crowd "if they dared."
Islam had been evading authorities since the violent incident. His associate and fellow lawyer, Ekramul Bagani, was also taken into custody during the airport operation. With these latest arrests, the total number of individuals detained in connection with the Malda violence has reached thirty-five.
Among those previously arrested is Maulana Shahjahan Ali, a candidate from the Indian Secular Front (ISF) in the Mothabari constituency during recent elections.
Legal Background and Political Connections
Moffakkerul Islam contested the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections as a candidate representing Asaduddin Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) from his hometown of Itahar in North Dinajpur district. However, his political ambitions received minimal support, with Islam securing just 831 votes in that election.
Following his unsuccessful electoral foray, Islam had primarily focused on his legal career, specializing in cyber crime cases and traveling extensively across India to represent clients. Despite this professional focus, he remained politically active, particularly during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act last year, which resulted in multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) being filed against him in North 24 Parganas district.
Police Investigation and Response
Law enforcement authorities have registered nineteen separate cases across Malda district related to the violence, with Islam specifically named as an accused in three of these cases. Police are currently investigating whether the incident was pre-planned and examining potential involvement of additional individuals.
IGP Jayraman acknowledged some delay in the rescue operation for the judicial officers but firmly denied any negligence by police forces. "A large number of women and children were present, which limited the scope for immediate physical intervention. However, police personnel remained with the judicial officers to ensure their safety," he explained.
Following the violent episode, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel have been deployed to the area to maintain order and prevent further incidents.
Islam's Statements and Continuing Tensions
Shortly after his arrest, Islam made a defiant statement to reporters while being escorted to a police vehicle. "The demonstration will go on until names of all deleted voters are restored in the electoral rolls," he declared.
Later, from inside Bagdogra police station, Islam released a video on Facebook denying any involvement in the hostage situation. He claimed he was merely traveling for legal work when apprehended. "I was arrested for speaking against the deletion of voters' names during SIR. I was supporting their protest but had no involvement in detaining judicial officers," he stated in the video.
Islam further urged citizens to take necessary steps to ensure their names are properly included in voters' lists, highlighting the underlying grievance that sparked the initial protest.
The arrest of Moffakkerul Islam represents a crucial development in the investigation of the Malda violence, though tensions remain high as authorities continue their probe into the incident that saw judicial officers held hostage and widespread disruption across the district.
