Overview
- Following Wednesday’s gherao in Malda’s Kaliachak-II office, seven judicial officers were confined for about nine hours during a Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls and were rescued around midnight.
- The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo motu note, ordered a CBI or NIA probe, told the Election Commission to station central forces at all SIR venues, and issued show‑cause notices to senior Bengal officials.
- The Election Commission has now assigned the investigation to the National Investigation Agency, and officials said the agency has begun steps to examine the Malda incident.
- Police reported 18 arrests, including ISF Mothabari candidate Moulana Shahjahan Ali, and the state CID said it detained alleged mastermind advocate Mofakkarul Islam at Bagdogra airport.
- Protests over alleged voter deletions have spread to Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Purba Bardhaman, disrupting SIR hearings and prompting political crossfire as TMC blames a larger conspiracy and the BJP alleges the ruling party shielded bogus voters.