Malda gherao case handed to NIA; CEC pulls up Bengal police over delay

Kolkata: Chief Election Commissioner of India, Gyanesh Kumar on Thursday handed over the investigation into the Malda case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). An NIA team is expected to reach West Bengal on Friday, ECI sources said, adding that the CEC conveyed a clear message that violence will not be tolerated. The Commission also directed that a preliminary report be submitted to the High Court.

So far, 18 persons have been arrested in connection with the gherao of seven judicial officers, including three women, who were surrounded by a large group of voters whose names had been deleted during the SIR process and held for over 10 hours. The officers, engaged in SIR adjudication, were rescued around 1 am with the help of police and CAPF personnel.

Meanwhile, the full Bench of the ECI, led by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, held a review meeting with CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal, DGP Siddh Nath Gupta, and senior district officials, including the Malda DM and SP, and pulled them up over the Kaliachak incident.


The CEC questioned the DGP over the delay in responding to the situation and asked why timely action was not taken to rescue the judicial officers. He directed that all those involved be arrested by the end of the day and that a detailed report be submitted to the Commission.

The Malda District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police were reprimanded for the delayed response, with the CEC warning that any recurrence would invite stringent action. "Why was there such a significant delay in your response?" Gyanesh Kumar asked, stressing the need for immediate intervention in similar situations.