Mamata Banerjee accuses the BJP of a pre-planned conspiracy in the Malda violence, alleging outsiders were hired from Mumbai. She claims the state CID arrested the conspirators, contrasting it with the NIA’s and ECI’s involvement.
Mamata Accuses BJP of Malda Conspiracy
In a high-stakes political environment as the state prepares for Assembly elections on April 23 and 29, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the BJP of conspiring to create unrest in Malda, alleging they brought in outsiders to provoke violence. She alleged that the recent incident in Malda, where seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage by villagerson Wednesday, was a pre-planned conspiracy orchestrated by outsiders brought from Mumbai, asserting that the state CID has made arrests while the NIA failed.
Addressing the situation at a public meeting at Hazaripar ground, Banerjee claimed, “The incident in Malda has been taken up by the CID. People were brought in from Mumbai. They had hired individuals and planned everything. But while the NIA could not catch them, our CID has arrested them.”
Allegations of ECI Bias and Misuse of CRPF
The mob was protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the names of roughly 1.20 crore voters (nearly 60 lakh cases under adjudication) had been deleted or marked for removal. She claimed that the BJP is trying to exploit the situation to their advantage, questioning the massive bureaucratic reshuffle ordered by the ECI to ensure neutrality. “BJP is bringing in money using CRPF vehicles. Elections are being held in five states. A total of 506 officers have been transferred, out of which 483 are from Bengal alone. The game is on, and it will be intense.”
Banerjee urged voters to remain vigilant, warning that CRPF personnel might favour the BJP. She called upon women voters to respond to these actions through the ballot box, stating, “everyone must stay alert. On the day of voting, mothers and sisters should go to vote carrying brooms, cleaning the roads as they go. The revenge for the deletion of names will be taken in the ballot box.”
The CM alleged that these transfers–including the removal of the DGP and Chief Secretary–were designed to weaken the state administration and favour the BJP. “The DGP and SP have all been newly appointed. Everyone must stay vigilant so that riots and money laundering do not take place. We will return, and justice will be served for those incidents,” she stated.
CID Arrests Alleged Mastermind
Meanwhile, the CID arrested Mofakkarul Islam today, an advocate and former AIMIM candidate, at Bagdogra Airport, identifying him as the key conspirator.
NIA Initiates Probe on ECI, Supreme Court Orders
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has started a probe by registering a “preliminary enquiry” into the Malda violence case in which thousands of people on Wednesday blocked the two gates of the Kaliachowk-2 Block Development Office (BDO), holding staff, including seven judicial officers “hostage” for hours before they were rescued after midnight. The anti-terror agency initiated the preliminary enquiry late on Thursday after the Election Commission of India (ECI) formally referred the matter, sending a letter to its Director General.
The ECI’s direction to the NIA came following the Supreme Court’s order issued on Thursday, asking the poll panel that “a central agency, either CBI or NIA” probe the incident, pointing out the attack “deliberate and calculated” attempt to demoralise the judicial officers and obstruct them from discharging their duty. The apex court had also mentioned specifically that it cannot be tolerated, and also directed the ECI to seek deployment of central forces for the protection of the officers and their families in the state.
NIA Team Deployed, Police Arrests
An NIA team is expected to reach Malda at any time today. While the agency has remained tight-lipped, sources indicated that an NIA team had already departed early Thursday from its Kolkata office for the spot. Upon arrival, the team is likely to first visit the jurisdictional police station to gather all available details related to the incident from the police, which is currently handling the case and has arrested 20 people linked to the incident so far, including Mothabari Indian Secular Front (ISF) candidate Maulana Shahjahan Ali and alleged mastermind Advocate Mofakkarul Islam.
West Bengal Election Details
Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
In the last assembly election in the state, held in eight phases in 2021, the Trinamool Congress recorded a landslide victory with 213 seats amid an intense contest with the BJP, which jumped to 77 seats. Congress and Left Front drew a blank in the last state polls. (ANI)
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