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Malda case mastermind Mofakkarul Islam arrested
Kolkata: In a major breakthrough in the Malda (Kaliachak) hostage incident, the Bengal CID arrested Advocate Mofakkarul Islam, widely regarded as the mastermind behind the episode, on Friday morning. Reports indicate that Islam was planning to flee the state via Bagdogra Airport when police, acting on a tip-off, laid a trap and apprehended him within the airport premises.
A Social Media Influencer with Political Clout
Mofakkarul Islam, a resident of North Dinajpur, is highly active on social media, with around 3 million followers. He contested the 2021 Assembly elections from the Itahar constituency on an AIMIM ticket.
Police say Islam has been vocal in the Muslim community on issues such as the CAA, NRC, and the recent Voter List Purification (SIR) drive. Although he has been less active in party work since the appointment of AIMIM’s new West Bengal president Imran Solanki in 2025, his influence through social media remained significant.
ADG (North Bengal) K Jayaraman stated that Islam faces serious allegations of inciting the public and orchestrating the entire conspiracy.
Police Admit Delay in Rescue, But Deny Negligence
Authorities acknowledged a delay in rescuing the judicial officers held hostage but denied any negligence. All officers involved have now been provided security by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
So far, 35 individuals have been arrested in connection with the Malda incident. Investigations have revealed links between some accused and political organizations like the ISF and AIMIM. Among the detained are Maulana Shahjahan Ali, the ISF candidate from Mothabari, and his associates, who are currently in police custody for 10 days.
What Happened in Malda?
The incident occurred last Wednesday during the Special Summary Revision (SSR) of electoral rolls. A protest erupted after certain names were removed from the voter list. Seven judicial officers-including three women-were held hostage in a Block Office for nearly nine hours without food or water.
The Supreme Court called the incident a “brazen attempt to obstruct the administration of justice” and directed the Election Commission to hand the case over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Notices have also been issued to the State Chief Secretary and the DGP. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has imposed a strict ban on gatherings or processions without prior approval.
Public Concerns Over Voter List Errors
Congress MP Isha Khan Choudhury from Malda argued that the event reflected “a failure of process” rather than violence. She highlighted issues in the SSR process, including problems with AI-based transliteration. For example, Bengali names like “DATTA” are being incorrectly processed as “DUTTA,” causing mismatches in voter documents.
Approximately 828,000 residents in Malda are now anxious about the accuracy of the voter list. Many are being asked to travel 10–12 km for verification, creating confusion and panic. Khan accused both the TMC and BJP of polarizing politics and emphasized that genuine voters should not be penalized due to systemic flaws.
