NIA Arrives in Malda to Probe Gherao of Judicial Officers
NIA Arrives in Malda to Probe Gherao of Judicial Officers
NIA teams descend on Malda to investigate the gherao of seven judicial officers during the SIR exercise, after a Supreme Court directive.
A 24-member National Investigation Agency team, led by a DIG-ranked official, reached Malda to probe the gherao of seven judicial officers during the SIR exercise. The investigators visited Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations, spoke to police and other personnel, and collected samples from the area where a mob had gathered and allegedly hurled bricks at vehicles as security forces tried to lift the blockade. A stretch of National Highway 12, within the NIA’s purview, remained blocked by demonstrators, and police reported 19 cases registered in Mothabari and Kaliachak. Earlier, two people were arrested, including the alleged mastermind, at Siliguri’s Bagdogra airport, taking the total arrests to 35.
The probe comes after the Election Commission tasked the NIA to investigate the incident, following a Supreme Court directive that censured the West Bengal administration over the matter. The Supreme Court also pulled up the state’s chief secretary for not taking calls from Calcutta HC’s chief justice and directed an apology. The gherao of judicial officers is being framed as a challenge to the authority of the Supreme Court, underscoring tensions ahead of the election season.
Court and government officials have maintained that action will be taken based on the findings, with the NIA continuing its inquiries to establish the sequence of events, identify those responsible, and evaluate security lapses. The investigation aims to restore credibility and reassure judicial and public confidence in the process, even as political temperatures rise in the region.
As this unfolds, authorities say the focus remains on ensuring law and order, protecting public officials, and upholding the rule of law, while balancing ongoing political activities and electoral timelines.
