Mofakkerul Islam, the alleged mastermind behind the harassment of judicial officers in Kaliachak, was arrested Friday morning at Bagdogra Airport. Islam, a prominent lawyer and AIMIM leader, was attempting to flee to Bengaluru. Interestingly, he had been trying to mislead investigators by posting old videos from Punjab, Kerala, and Telangana on social media to suggest he was already out of the state.

Who is Mofakkerul Islam? A resident of Itahar and a practicing lawyer at the Calcutta High Court, Islam enjoys immense popularity both in legal circles and on social media, boasting millions of followers. He contested the 2021 elections on an AIMIM ticket and, though not a candidate this time, remains a key figure for the party in Malda. He was caught on camera inciting the mob from atop a vehicle during Wednesday’s unrest.

The Arrest: Despite his digital decoys, the police tracked him down just before he could board his flight. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had previously pointed fingers at MIM for the Kaliachak incident. With Islam now in custody, the police are probing his motives for traveling to Malda and whether the agitation was a calculated strike against the judiciary.