The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made its first arrest in connection with the gherao of seven judicial officers involved in the SIR adjudication process in Malda, which took place two weeks ago. On Sunday, the agency apprehended Golam Rabbani, a local panchayat member affiliated with the Indian Secular Front (ISF), as well as detained Sayem Chowdhury, a Congress candidate from the Mothabari Assembly constituency, along with seven of his associates, according to sources.
Chowdhury and his companions were taken into custody while he was conducting a campaign in the Alinagar panchayat area on Sunday. A senior official from the NIA stated, “We are interrogating Chowdhury to assess his connection to the incident. If sufficient evidence is gathered against him, an arrest will follow.”
Previously, the West Bengal CID, which initially looked into the matter, had arrested a total of 35 individuals, including Mofakkerul Islam, an activist and lawyer associated with the AIMIM.
Sources indicate that Rabbani’s arrest stemmed from information obtained during the questioning of the AIMIM member. The CID has identified Mofakkerul Islam as the principal orchestrator of the gherao, claiming he encouraged the crowd to besiege the BDO office and delivered an inflammatory speech shortly before the incident occurred.
The NIA has requested custody of all 35 individuals detained by the CID. Currently, Rabbani is being transported to Kolkata. An NIA official expressed optimism that Rabbani could lead them to other key figures involved in the incident.
The gherao incident on April 1 was triggered by public outrage over the removal of names from the electoral roll during the adjudication process, which resulted in demonstrators surrounding the Kaliachowk-II BDO office. The crowd prevented the seven judicial officials, including three women, from exiting the building. A police team eventually managed to escort them out late that night amid road and highway blockages by the protesting villagers.
The day following the incident, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to transfer the investigation to the NIA. Meanwhile, the West Bengal CID had already arrested 35 suspects. A dedicated team of 40 NIA officials, led by an officer of DIG rank, is stationed in the state to oversee the investigation.
This past Wednesday, the NIA filed FIRs, including seven cases from the Mothabari Police Station and five from the Kalichak Police Station in the Malda district.
Atri Mitra is a distinguished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, boasting over 20 years of experience in journalism. His reporting is noted for its in-depth understanding of regional issues and significant focus on key political and administrative matters. Mitra’s expertise solidifies his reputation in the field.
His current role as a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express is supported by two decades of comprehensive reporting, particularly in the areas of administration and political news.
With considerable reporting experience in West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, he possesses a nuanced perspective on the socio-political dynamics of these regions.
For more than a decade, Mitra has concentrated on political reporting, having covered critical electoral events including the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, the 2010 assembly elections during his tenure at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha elections while with News18-Bangla.
Beginning his career at the prominent vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, he spent over fifteen years there, including three years as the Bihar correspondent.
Academically, he holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, which enriches his analytical approach to political and administrative news. Additionally, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Calcutta University and is an alumnus of prestigious institutions, including St. Xavier’s, Kolkata, and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
With his extensive experience and strong educational background, Atri Mitra is a highly regarded and credible source for news and analysis concerning Eastern and North-Eastern India.
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