The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially launched a probe into the violent unrest in Malda, where thousands of protesters besieged the Kaliachak-II BDO office and held seven judicial officers captive for over eight hours. The action follows a stern directive from the Supreme Court, which termed the incident a “deliberate and planned” attempt to obstruct the judiciary. Following the court’s observation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) instructed the NIA Director General to initiate an immediate inquiry.

So far, 20 individuals have been arrested, including ISF candidate Maulana Shahjahan Ali and the alleged mastermind, lawyer Mofakkarul Islam, who was intercepted at Bagdogra airport. A specialized NIA team led by a DIG-rank officer is expected to arrive in Malda today to take over the case documents from local police. The agency will investigate whether there was an organized network behind this massive mobilization and violence. Meanwhile, the apex court has ordered the deployment of central forces to ensure the safety of the affected judicial officers and their families.