Kolkata, 02 April (H.S.): Seven judicial officials engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were rescued late on Wednesday night after being confined for nearly eight hours inside the Kaliachak-2 Block Development Office in Malda district following protests over alleged deletion of names from the voter list.

According to reports, protests erupted in several areas of Kaliachak, Mothabari and Sujapur after locals minority community alleged that names of valid voters were removed despite having proper documents. Demonstrators blocked roads, including stretches of National Highway 12, demanding immediate correction of the electoral rolls before polling is conducted.

Officials said the seven judicial officers, including three women, had gone to the Kaliachak-2 block office for SIR-related work when protesters gathered outside and gheraoed the premises from around the afternoon. They were finally escorted out after midnight under police protection.

There were also reports of an attempted attack on the police convoy during the rescue operation. Visuals circulating from the spot allegedly showed broken glass inside one of the vehicles used in the convoy.

Reacting to the incident, Union Minister and senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sukanta Majumdar, blamed the All India Trinamool Congress leadership for the situation. He alleged that “provocative statements” by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and other party leaders on the SIR issue had contributed to the unrest.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh said the party does not support any attempt to take the law into one’s own hands and instead blamed the Election Commission of India for the overall situation. He also alleged that certain smaller parties backed by the BJP were trying to create disturbances.

Police and administrative officials reportedly held multiple rounds of discussions with protesters to persuade them to lift the blockade. Authorities said efforts were continuing to restore normalcy, while detailed comments on the law-and-order situation were being withheld. electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Protesters blocked roads in the area, disrupting normal movement and creating a tense situation.

According to reports, seven judicial officials who had reached the Kaliachak-2 Block office in connection with the revision exercise remained confined inside the premises for several hours after demonstrators gheraoed the building. Among those confined were three women officials.

The protesters argued that while authorities were advising affected voters to approach the tribunal if their names were deleted from the voter list, their demand was for an immediate resolution of the issue before the conduct of polling.

Protests began in several parts of Malda district from Wednesday morning. Groups of demonstrators, reportedly linked to the Trinamool Congress, also staged protests in Mothabari and Sujapur areas and blocked National Highway 12. Preliminary information suggests that the blockade began around 11 am and continued till late in the night.

A large crowd also gathered outside the Kaliachak-2 Block office, raising slogans and staging demonstrations, which made it difficult for the officials present inside to leave the premises.

Videos from the protest site showed large gatherings of people raising slogans and demonstrating using public address systems. Police personnel were deployed in the area to bring the situation under control.

Sources said police and administrative officials repeatedly appealed to the protesters to lift the blockade, but they had not been able to disperse the crowd till late evening.

Anupam Singh, Superintendent of Police of Malda, said efforts were being made to normalise the situation. However, he refrained from making any detailed comments on the matter.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh