In a major development in the Mothabari incident, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made its first set of high-profile arrests. Local Panchayat member Golam Rabbani, along with Asif Sheikh and Sahadat Hussain, has been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in orchestrating violence and inciting a mob in Malda.

The incident dates back to April 1, when seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage for hours and their convoy was attacked following protests over voter list deletions. Following the Supreme Court’s direct intervention, the Election Commission handed over the probe to the NIA. Investigators believe the attack was a “planned conspiracy” rather than a spontaneous outburst of public anger.

Golam Rabbani is suspected of leading the agitated crowd, while the other two detainees are identified as local Congress supporters. The NIA utilized advanced videography and mapping techniques to identify the culprits before conducting late-night interrogations on Sunday. The agency plans to produce them in court to seek custody for further questioning. With more arrests likely in the coming days, the area remains under heavy police surveillance as the political climate in the district continues to simmer.