National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrests 14 more in Malda judicial officers gherao case

National Investigation Agency arrests 14 more in Malda judicial officers gherao case, total count rises to 68

According to investigators, those arrested had direct involvement in the alleged harassment and confinement of judicial officers in Mothabari last month

NIA officials conduct an investigation at Mothabari village in Malda district following the gherao of seven judicial officers by protesting locals over voter list deletions during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, Saturday, April 4, 2026.

The arrests were made during overnight raids on Monday in the Kaliachak and Mothabari areas. With the latest action, the total number of arrests in the case has risen to 68.  

The newly arrested individuals were directly involved in the April 1 incident in Mothabari, where a mob held seven judicial officers hostage inside a BDO office and confined another officer inside a vehicle for nearly nine hours.

The violence erupted during protests over the deletion of names from electoral rolls. Officials said protesters blocked roads, vandalised vehicles and attacked police personnel during the unrest.  

The judicial officers had been deployed for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists and were later rescued by security forces late at night. The incident sparked a major political controversy in the state ahead of the assembly polls. "The NIA is trying to identify others linked to the incident. Several crucial leads have emerged during questioning of those earlier arrested and scrutiny of CCTV footage, leading to a series of arrests over the past few weeks," a senior official said.

The NIA took over the probe following directions from the Supreme Court. Among those arrested earlier in the case are ISF’s Mothabari candidate Maulana Shahjahan Ali Qadri and ISF leader Golam Rabbani.  

Liquor shops will not be permitted within one kilometre of schools, colleges, temples: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari

Government to issue forms from May 27 for Annapurna Yojana, under which Rs 3,000 per month will be given to women, says Suvendu. 

The chief minister also said his government has decided to introduce fish and rice meals at around 400 dedicated canteens twice a week at a subsidised rate of Rs 5.

He said the West Bengal government will also set up an AYUSH department, delinking it from the health department.  

He said the state government will start issuing forms from May 27 for the Annapurna Yojana, under which Rs 3,000 per month would be given to women.

Speaking to reporters after an administrative meeting at Kalyani in Nadia, Adhikari said, “Annapurna Yojana forms will be issued from the state secretariat from tomorrow. All Indians are eligible to receive benefits under the scheme.”

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