NIA team reaches Malda to probe gherao of judicial officials engaged in SIR

An NIA team visited Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations in Malda on Thursday (April 3, 2026) to probe into the gherao of seven judicial officers by protesting locals over the deletion of names in the SIR exercise, officials said.

The NIA has been tasked by the Election Commission to probe into the Wednesday incident, following a directive from the Supreme Court, which has censured the West Bengal administration over the issue.

Also Read | Mamata Banerjee blames AIMIM, ISF for judicial officers’ gherao; accuses Congress, BJP of instigation

The 24-member team of the federal anti-terror probe agency, led by a DIG-ranked official, spoke to police and other personnel at Mothabari and collected samples from the spot where a mob had gathered and allegedly hurled bricks at vehicles when security forces had tried to lift the blockade.

The NIA officials also visited neighbouring Kaliachak police station since a stretch of the National Highway 12 under its purview was blocked by the demonstrators, a senior district police official said.

A total of 19 cases have been registered in Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations. The West Bengal Police on Friday arrested two persons, including the alleged mastermind of the gherao, from Siliguri’s Bagdogra airport, taking the total number of arrests till now to 35.