Former AIMIM Candidate Arrested in Connection with Malda Hostage Crisis
The Bengal police on Friday apprehended former AIMIM candidate and lawyer Mofakrul Islam at Bagdogra airport in Siliguri, linking him to the recent violence and hostage situation in Malda district. Islam was allegedly attempting to board a flight and flee the state when authorities detained him. Investigators have identified him as a key conspirator in the Kaliachak gherao of judicial officers, an incident that has evolved into a significant law-and-order and political flashpoint ahead of the West Bengal elections.
Background of the Accused and Escalating Tensions
Mofakrul Islam, who contested the 2021 assembly elections from Itahar in North Dinajpur, came under scrutiny after videos surfaced showing him leading protests in Malda’s Sujapur area. In one viral clip, he is heard challenging the administration, shouting: “Hey DM, hey SP… where is the CID, where is the IB? Come here.” Police are actively investigating his role in mobilizing and inciting the mob. His arrest brings the total number of individuals detained in this case to over 30, including an Indian Secular Front (ISF) candidate. Several others remain at large, with ongoing raids across Malda and adjoining districts.
Details of the Malda Hostage Situation
The violence erupted on Wednesday amid widespread protests over alleged mass deletion of names from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. Demonstrations spread across multiple districts, including Malda, Jalpaiguri, and North 24 Parganas, with protesters blocking highways, burning tires, and raising slogans against the administration. The situation reached a critical point in Kaliachak-II block, where a large mob surrounded seven judicial officers, including three women, inside a BDO office.
These officers, tasked with adjudicating voter list objections under Supreme Court guidelines, were held under siege for more than eight hours. According to accounts later recorded by the court, they were denied food and water, and repeated calls for help went unanswered for hours. The gherao continued until past midnight, when police finally intervened and rescued them under tense conditions. As they were escorted out, their convoy was attacked with stones and sticks, and at least one vehicle was vandalized. One of the women officers described the ordeal as a “nightmare”, expressing fear for their lives as the crowd swelled without timely rescue. The officers have since refused to return to the Kaliachak-II office and are now working from an alternative location under central force protection.
Supreme Court’s Strong Criticism and Notices
Taking note of the incident based on a report from the Calcutta High Court chief justice, the Supreme Court strongly criticized the West Bengal administration. A bench led by the Chief Justice termed the incident a “brazen”, “well-planned”, and “deliberate” attempt to intimidate judicial officers and obstruct their duties. The court stated that the episode amounted to a direct challenge to its authority and could constitute criminal contempt. It also observed a “complete failure” of the civil and police administration in maintaining law and order.
The apex court issued show-cause notices to the chief secretary, home secretary, DGP, district magistrate, and superintendent of police, asking why action should not be initiated against them for failing to ensure the officers’ safety despite being alerted early in the day. The court recorded that senior officials were informed multiple times, including through calls involving the high court’s registrar general and chief justice, but effective action was delayed until late at night.
Chief Minister’s Response and Political Implications
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged people not to take the law into their own hands, even as she acknowledged public anger over alleged voter deletions. She backed a central probe but accused the BJP and central agencies of attempting to create unrest ahead of elections. Banerjee alleged that opposition forces were trying to provoke voters and disrupt the electoral process, warning that violence would only weaken their case. She claimed that the Election Commission, which currently oversees law and order during elections, had failed to protect judicial officers despite being in control of the administrative machinery.
This incident highlights the escalating tensions in West Bengal as election season approaches, with law enforcement and judicial integrity under intense scrutiny.
