Alleged mastermind behind Malda violence detained, 35 arrested

Moffakkerul Islam, the alleged mastermind behind the Malda violence where judicial officials were held hostage, was on Friday (April 3, 2026) detained by West Bengal Police and likely to be taken in custody. Mr. Islam, a lawyer by profession and resident of Itahar, was seen making speeches outside the Block Development Office and urging the crowd not to leave the area. He had contested the 2021 Assembly polls as a candidate of AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen).

K. Jayaraman, Inspector General of Police, North Bengal told media persons on Friday that Mr. Islam was intercepted and detained while fleeing the State from Bagdogra airport. He added that 35 persons arrested for the violence and 19 cases have been started. The police officer said that people have a right to protest but they cannot resort to violence.

The Election Commission on Thursday (April 2) asked National Investigation Agency to probe the violence in West Bengal Malda district where seven judicial officers were gheraoed by a mob on Wednesday evening. Seven judicial officers who had gone to Kaliachak for judicial adjudication work were gheraoed by a mob for several hours at Kaliachak block II Malda. The police had to rescue the officials late on Wednesday night.

During the hearing on the matter on Thursday the Supreme Court has directed the Commission to entrust the inquiry/ investigation of the gherao of judicial officers to an independent agency, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency. The NIA team is likely to reach Malda on Friday (April 3).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Thursday urged people not to resort to violence and said that the game plan of Bharatiya Janata Party was to impose President’s rule in the State. Ms. Banerjee had said that all the officials of the State government has been transferred and she has no control left over the administration. The BJP leadership has claimed that the violence was a result of remarks made by Chief Minister on SIR.