Malda hostage case: Bengal Police arrest alleged 'mastermind' behind gherao of 7 judicial officers

NEW DELHI: The West Bengal Police on Friday arrested an advocate accused of masterminding the gherao of seven judicial officers in Malda district.According to PTI, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) detained Mofakkarul Islam from Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri while he was allegedly attempting to flee. He is believed to be the key conspirator in the Kaliachak incident. The controversy stems from an incident on Wednesday, when a mob surrounded seven judicial officers for several hours in Malda during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The situation escalated after allegations of large-scale deletion of voter names.Security forces eventually intervened, using batons to disperse the crowd and safely evacuate the officials, including three women, late in the night. The protests also spilled onto National Highway 12, a key Kolkata–Siliguri route, which was blocked by demonstrators demanding action over the alleged voter list removals.The BJP has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of orchestrating the protest and inciting the mob, a charge the latter has not officially responded to.