The tranquil electoral process in West Bengal faced a severe jolt this week when seven judicial officers, including three women, were "gheraoed" or forcibly confined at a block development office in Kaliachak, Malda. The officers were deployed as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls—a high-stakes exercise aimed at ensuring a clean voter list ahead of the April 23 Assembly elections.
A mob, reportedly agitated over the deletion of names from the voter list, surrounded the building at approximately 3:30 PM on Wednesday. For the next nine hours, the judicial officials were denied food and water, with the Supreme Court later noting that even a five-year-old child accompanying one of the officers was deprived of basic sustenance.
Supreme Court Steps In: "A Calculated Attempt"
The apex court, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, took a very grim view of the state’s inaction. Terming the incident a "brazen attempt" to intimidate the judiciary and disrupt the electoral process, the Court described the situation as a breakdown of law and order.
The Bench expressed deep disappointment with the West Bengal administration, particularly the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP), for their delayed response. It was only after the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court alerted the CJI late at night that a rescue operation was coordinated, finally freeing the officers around midnight amidst stone-pelting.
Key Directives from the Supreme Court:
- NIA/CBI Probe: The ECI was directed to hand over the investigation to either the NIA or the CBI to ensure a neutral inquiry. The ECI subsequently chose the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
- Security Deployment: Central forces are to be deployed immediately to protect judicial officers at all adjudication centers and their residences.
- Crowd Control: Not more than five persons are allowed to assemble at any SIR adjudication venue at a given time.
- Show Cause: Top state officials, including the Home Secretary and DGP, must explain their "conspicuous inertia" during the crisis.
The Arrest of the 'Mastermind'
In a swift development following the SC's censure, the West Bengal police arrested the alleged mastermind behind the gherao. Mofakkarul Islam, an advocate by profession, was intercepted at Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri while reportedly attempting to board a flight.
Authorities believe Islam was the primary instigator who mobilized the mob to obstruct the judicial officers from performing their duties. Including Islam, a total of 18 individuals have been apprehended so far in connection with the violence and illegal confinement.
Political Aftermath and ECI Action
The incident has triggered a massive political firestorm. While the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) pointed out that the current state administration is under the ECI’s jurisdiction during the poll period, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged that external political elements like AIMIM and ISF were responsible for the instigation. Conversely, the opposition has labeled the event as "Jungle Raj," citing it as proof of the state's inability to protect even the judiciary.
The ECI has now requested the NIA to submit a preliminary report directly to the Supreme Court. An NIA team is expected to arrive in Malda within 24 hours to begin a forensic and ground-level investigation into whether the attack was a "well-planned and deliberate act" to derail the upcoming elections.
As West Bengal moves closer to its first phase of polling on April 23, the Malda incident remains a stark reminder of the volatile atmosphere surrounding the electoral roll revision and the immense pressure on the officials tasked with upholding the democratic process.