New Delhi, May 26 (H.S.): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested 15 accused in connection with incidents involving road blockades and the illegal detention of judicial officers in West Bengal’s Malda district last month. Of these, 12 accused were allegedly involved in stopping a woman judicial officer on the road for nearly eight hours, while three others were involved in blocking traffic at the Bagmara Bridge in Mothabari block.

The NIA carried out the action following directions from the Election Commission after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the incidents. The agency conducted a special operation in Malda district on Monday and apprehended all the accused.

The investigation revealed that judicial officers were targeted during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. Protesters allegedly first held the woman judicial officer hostage for several hours on the Haibatoula-Amalitola route. This was followed by a road blockade at Bagmara Bridge, which disrupted vehicular movement. The incidents are being viewed as a planned attempt to influence the electoral process and intimidate judicial officers.

Among the main accused arrested are Joshim Sheikh, Asmaul Sheikh, Alamgir Sheikh, Nurul Islam, and Habibur Rahman. The NIA stated that efforts are underway to trace the remaining accused. The agency is also attempting to uncover the conspiracy behind the incidents and ascertain the motive behind the illegal detention of judicial officers.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar