Malda hostage incident: 35 arrested, alleged instigator detained

ADG North Bengal K Jayaraman confirmed 35 arrests in the Malda hostage incident, including an alleged instigator. Following the event where 7 judicial officers were held, CAPF security has been provided and further violence will be prevented.

ADG North Bengal K Jayaraman on Friday said 35 people have been arrested till now in the Malda hostage incident. "We detained Mofakkarul Islam from Bagdogra airport, for instigating people. He was going to his residence in Ithar. 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," ADG said.Jayaraman reiterated that all the crucial steps will be taken by the police so that there is no further violence. "We will take all steps to ensure violence is not repeated. People can protest, but we will not allow any violence. That's for sure," he said. He added that the officials are making an investigation into why there was a delay in the rescue, and a report will be submitted soon.

Protests Over Electoral Roll Deletions

This comes after seven judicial officers, including three women, 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 paralysed Malda throughout the day, as demonstrators staged road blockades across national and state highways and key rural routes in at least five Assembly constituencies.

Supreme Court Criticises State's Inaction

Earlier, the Supreme Court described the incident as a brazen and deliberate attempt to obstruct the administration of justice.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed concern that, despite prior intimation, the State authorities failed to provide prompt protection, leaving the officers without food or water for hours. The court issued show-cause notices to senior State officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and Director-General of Police, asking them to explain their inaction.

It directed the Election Commission to requisition and deploy adequate central forces to ensure the safety of judicial officers and the smooth conduct of the SIR adjudication process. The bench also mandated strict security measures at all venues, restricted public entry, ordered an immediate assessment of threat perceptions to the officers and their families, and required compliance reports. It asked senior officials to be present virtually at the next hearing. (ANI)

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