In a significant development in the Malda unrest case, the Election Commission (EC) has handed over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). A team of investigators is expected to reach the site on Friday to begin a preliminary probe.
According to official sources, the Commission has formally notified the NIA to initiate the investigation and has directed that all findings, including progress reports and documents, be submitted directly to the Supreme Court on April 6, the next date of hearing. The directive follows guidelines laid down by the Court, which is closely monitoring the case. The State Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal and the Chief Secretary have also been informed of the decision.
The unrest erupted on Wednesday morning across parts of Malda following allegations of arbitrary removal of names from the SIR voter list. Tensions escalated at the Kaliachak-II Block Office, where seven judicial officers engaged in SIR-related duties were allegedly held captive for over nine hours, triggering widespread concern.
In connection with the incident, Maulana Shahjahan Ali, an ISF candidate from the Mothabari constituency, has been arrested along with 17 others. All the accused were produced before the Malda District Court on Thursday.
The matter was also taken up by the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed serious concern over the developments. Initially, the Commission had considered entrusting the probe to the CBI and had directed the District Superintendent of Police to ensure arrests by midnight Thursday. However, within hours, it was decided that the NIA would handle the investigation.
In a major breakthrough, police on Friday morning arrested Mofakkerul Islam, identified as the alleged mastermind behind the blockade and detention of judicial officers. He was apprehended at Bagdogra Airport while allegedly attempting to flee to Bengaluru.
According to police officials, Mofakkerul had been evading calls and messages despite multiple attempts to contact him. Acting on intelligence inputs, law enforcement agencies tracked his movements and detained him before he could leave the state. He is expected to be formally arrested soon.
A resident of Itahar in North Dinajpur district, Mofakkerul is a lawyer by profession and has previously practiced at Raiganj District Court and the Calcutta High Court. He later entered politics, joining the AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections. Contesting from the Itahar constituency in 2021, he secured only 831 votes.
Police sources confirmed that three cases had already been registered against him prior to this incident. So far, a total of 35 individuals have been arrested, and 19 cases registered across Malda in connection with the unrest.
The situation remains tense, with authorities maintaining heightened vigilance as the NIA prepares to take over the investigation.
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