Mothabari: 15 in NIA net; arrest tally now 65

Malda: NIA made 15 arrests on Monday in connection with the Mothabari incident of April 1, when judicial officers engaged in SIR work were gheraoed for over eight hours.In a statement issued Tuesday, NIA said the arrests were made in two separate cases linked to road blockades and the illegal confinement of judicial officers. In the first case, 12 people were arrested for allegedly detaining a woman judicial officer for around eight hours on the Haibatola–Amlitola Road. The agency identified the main accused as Joshim Sk and Asmaul Sk. In the second case, three people —Alamgir Sk, Nurul Islam and Habibur Rahman — were arrested for their alleged role in blocking Bagmara Bridge in the Mothabari block.On April 1, a large crowd protesting the deletion of names from voters' lists allegedly turned violent, blocked roads, vandalised vehicles and attacked police personnel. Seven judicial officers were reportedly held inside the BDO office in Mothabari, while an eighth was confined in a vehicle.With these arrests, the total number held in the case has risen to 65. Those arrested include local TMC office-bearers, an ISF election candidate, and lawyer-activists. The NIA said efforts continue to trace others involved.