Alleged mastermind behind Malda violence arrested in West Bengal

The AIMIM leader and the alleged mastermind behind the Malda violence and hostage of seven judicial officers, Moffakkerul Islam, was arrested by West Bengal police on Friday

The alleged mastermind behind the Malda violence where judicial officials were held hostage and attacked, Mofakkerul Islam, was arrested by West Bengal Police on Friday. The police have so far arrested 35 persons, including Islam, an advocate by profession, in connection with leading protests which led to gherao and attack on seven judicial officers at Mothabari in Malda district during the SIR drive. Islam had contested the 2021 Assembly polls as a candidate of AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen).

A 24-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations in Malda to probe the gherao of judicial officers by protesting locals over the deletion of names in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls in Bengal before the Assembly elections this month. Political blame game has intensified over the shocking incident for which the Supreme Court criticised the West Bengal administration. The apex court on Thursday termed it deplorable and sought responses from the state Home Secretary, DGP and other officials for their inaction.

After the arrest of Mofakkerul Islam from Bagdogra airport, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee blamed the BJP, AIMIM and Indian Secular Front (ISF) for engineering the unrest.

Addressing a rally at Harirampur in Dakshin Dinajpur district, Banerjee alleged that the BJP “borrowed” Islam from AIMIM and used him to foment trouble. “Regarding the incident in Malda’s Mothabari, whoever did it has been caught red-handed by our CID. It wasn’t the local police. They were trying to escape through Bagdogra. They came from Mumbai. The BJP brought that AIMIM/ISF group from Mumbai. Congress has also provided instigation,” she said.

“They are using this opportunity to provoke minorities and then torture them using the NIA, CBI, and ED. Outsiders are coming from Gujarat by bus. I have voice records,” the Trinamool chief added. The BJP accused the Trinamool Congress of instigating the mob to gherao the judicial officials and attack them. The saffron party also alleged that Islam is close to Trinamool, sharing a series of pictures, showing him on posters and on stage with Mamata Banerjee.

“Afraid of losing the elections following the deletion of names of bogus voters, the TMC has mobilised jihadi elements in the district and orchestrated this unconstitutional, illegal agitation, keeping judicial officers, magistrates, including women confined in the extreme heat, humid conditions for hours,” BJP state spokesperson Debajit Sarkar said.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also criticised the ruling TMC for the violence, alleging that only its leaders and workers could gherao judicial officers in West Bengal

Published on April 3, 2026