The Supreme Court of India has taken a stern view of the recent violence in Malda’s Kaliachak, where seven judicial officers were held hostage and attacked. Terming the incident a “challenge to the authority of the court,” the bench has directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the probe immediately. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has also been instructed to facilitate the investigation.

On April 1, a mob besieged the Kaliachak BDO office, keeping judges without food or water for hours and later attacking their vehicles. Expressing “deep dissatisfaction” with the state administration, the apex court has sought explanations from West Bengal’s Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and DGP. To ensure future safety, the court ordered the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) at the judges’ residences and workplaces.

In a major breakthrough, the mastermind of the incident, lawyer Mofakkerul Islam, was arrested at Bagdogra Airport on Friday while attempting to flee. With the arrest of ISF candidate Maulana Shahjahan Ali and 34 others, the total number of detainees has risen to 35. The Supreme Court’s intervention marks a significant escalation in the legal repercussions for the state administration regarding the safety of judicial officers during election duties.