Malda Hostage Drama: AIMIM Leader Mofakkarul Islam Accused of Leading Protests Arrested

New Delhi: In a big breakthrough, the alleged mastermind behind the Malda 'gherao' incident, AIMIM leader Mofakkerul Islam, was arrested at Bagdogra Airport by the West Bengal police on Friday while he was trying to flee the state. 

Police identified Islam, an advocate and former election candidate, as the primary instigator of the Thursday night protests that saw Special Intensive Revision (SIR) officers held captive for over nine hours. 

Notably, Islam previously contested the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections as a candidate for the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) from the Itahar constituency.

His arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the administrative blockade in Malda.

The incident centered on seven judicial officers including three women, who were held hostage by villagers in Malda district on Wednesday.

The standoff was triggered by mass deletions from the electoral rolls under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The incident was part of a broader wave of protests that paralyzed Malda throughout the day, as demonstrators staged road blockades across national and state highways and key rural routes in at least five Assembly constituencies.

"The unrest reportedly began after protesters were denied a requested meeting with the officials. By approximately 4 pm, the crowd laid siege to the Block Development Office (BDO) effectively taking seven officers hostage for several hours. 

Adding to the gravity of the situation, a five-year-old child of one of the trapped officers was also confined inside the building during the nine-hour ordeal.

Authorities further alleged that Islam delivered a provocative speech that incited the crowd during the demonstration. 

ADG North Bengal K Jayaraman told ANI, "We detained Mofakkarul Islam from Bagdogra airport, for instigating people. We will not allow any such kind of activity. Will definitely probe if this was pre-planned or not. After this incident, we have given CAPF to judicial officers. So far, 35 people have been arrested." Mofakkerul Islam had previously contested the 2021 elections as a candidate of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. 

NIA to probe

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has handed over the investigation into the shocking hostage crisis in West Bengal's Malda district to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). According to reports, a NIA team is expected to reach Malda on Friday as it initiates the probe into the incident. Earlier, tension erupted in West Bengal's Malda after seven SIR judicial officers were taken hostage by protesters for nearly 9 hours, prompting the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance.

The decision to hand over the investigation to NIA comes after the Supreme Court strongly criticised the Mamata Banerjee administration for its failure to prevent the incident, terming it a "complete failure" of law and order. The incident has triggered tensions between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India, ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections.

Earlier in the day, seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage by protesters at a Block Development Office in Kaliachak, Malda, for nearly 9 hours on Wednesday. The protesters were angry over alleged deletions from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The officers were finally rescued by central security forces around midnight, leading to complete chaos in the district.

War of words

The incident has triggered a war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP, with both parties trading accusations over the violence. The BJP has demanded President's Rule in West Bengal, alleging that the state government is unable to maintain law and order.