By Tensions around the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections intensified on Thursday after the Election Commission decided to hand over the probe into the gherao of judicial officers in Malda to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The move came after strong observations from the Supreme Court, which criticised the state administration for failing to ensure the safety of officials engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The incident, in which seven judicial officers — including three women — were surrounded and allegedly held hostage by villagers for several hours, has raised fresh concerns over law and order in the poll-bound state. With elections scheduled later this month, the Election Commission has moved swiftly to ensure accountability and prevent any further disruption to the voter list revision process.
According to officials, the trouble began outside the Kaliachak II Block Development Office in Malda when a group of locals whose names were reportedly removed from the electoral rolls demanded a meeting with the judicial officers overseeing the revision exercise. When entry to the premises was denied, the crowd began protesting in the afternoon and eventually blocked the office complex, continuing the gherao late into the night. The officers were unable to leave for several hours until the situation was brought under control.
Following the incident, the Supreme Court took a serious view of the matter, calling the attack on judicial officers “deplorable” and pointing to a complete breakdown of administrative response. The court said the state government should have promptly informed the Election Commission and sought central forces to ensure the safety of officials. It also allowed the poll body to choose between a CBI or NIA investigation and ordered the deployment of central forces to prevent similar incidents.
Acting on the court’s directions, the Election Commission formally requested the NIA to conduct a detailed investigation and submit a preliminary report. An NIA team is expected to reach West Bengal soon to begin the inquiry and assess whether the incident was part of a larger attempt to disrupt the electoral process.
The political fallout was immediate. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to create instability in the state and alleged that attempts were being made to derail the election process and push for President’s rule. She also questioned the Election Commission’s handling of law and order during the voter revision exercise.
West Bengal is set to vote for its 294-member Assembly in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting scheduled for May 4. With the gherao incident now under national investigation and central forces likely to be deployed, the episode has added another layer of tension to what is already shaping up to be a closely watched and politically charged election.
