NIA arrests two Congress leaders over Malda gherao incident
The agency also detained Sayan Chowdhury, the Congress candidate from Mothabari, and reportedly seized his mobile for further investigation. He was later released after interrogation.
The National Investigating Agency (NIA) arrested two Congress leaders allegedly involved in the gherao of judicial officers by locals protesting against the deletion of voter names in the Special Intensive Resivision (SIR) in Malda.
Two local leaders, Shahdat Hossain and Asif Sheikh were arrested in connection with the gherao of seven judicial officers (JOs) in Malda district's Kaliachak block on April 1.
Earlier, the NIA had arrested several persons, including an Indian Secular Front (ISF) candidate in connection with the incident.
The agency also detained Sayan Chowdhury, Congress-nominated candidate from Mothabari assembly constituency in Malda on Sunday and reportedly seized his mobile for further investigation. He was later released after a prolonged interrogation. "It is a well-planned political conspiracy to detain me for long hours amidst election campaigns,” Chowdhury told reporters on Monday.
Sources said that during the interrogation, the NIA team found discrepancies in the statements of Hossain and Sheikh.
Earlier on April 3, the West Bengal CID arrested advocate AIMIM leader Mofakkarul Islam, an alleged mastermind behind the incident, from Bagdogra airport in north Bengal, while he was allegedly trying to flee.
Expressing serious concern over such incidents, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar had held an emergency meeting through video conferencing with the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal, state chief secretary Dushyant Nariala, home secretary, director general of police, Kolkata police commissioner, district magistrates and superintendents of police.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on April 5 alleged that the gherao of the seven JOs in Kaliachak II was not only lawlessness but also a planned maha jungleraj of Trinamool Congress in the State.
“Just a few days ago, the entire nation witnessed judicial officers being held hostage in Malda. What kind of government is this where even judges and the constitutional procedures are not safe? We cannot expect such a government to keep the people of Bengal safe” the PM said. “What happened in Malda is an example of maha jungleraj of Trinamool Congress in Bengal,” he said
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