Mamata Banerjee said she was unaware of the Malda hostage crisis involving judicial officers, blaming the Election Commission, as the Supreme Court termed the incident a serious challenge to judicial authority.
CM Says She Was Unaware of Incident
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she had no prior information about the hostage situation involving judicial officers in Malda district.
Addressing a rally, Banerjee stated that she learned about the incident late at night through media reports. “No one informed me,” she said, adding that the state administration was no longer fully under her control due to election-related arrangements.
The Trinamool Congress leader accused the Election Commission of India of taking over key administrative functions ahead of the Assembly elections.
She alleged that law and order in the state was effectively being managed by the poll body, leaving the elected government with limited authority. Banerjee described the situation as akin to a “super President’s rule,” claiming that her powers had been significantly curtailed during the election period.
The remarks came after strong observations by the Supreme Court of India, which expressed concern over the incident.
The court described the episode as a serious and deliberate attempt to undermine judicial authority and demoralise officers. It suggested that a central agency, such as the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency, should investigate the matter.
The incident occurred amid tensions over the revision of electoral rolls before the upcoming two-phase Assembly elections. A group of voters, reportedly upset over the deletion of their names from the list, gathered in protest.
The situation escalated when a mob detained seven judicial officers, including three women, for nearly nine hours. The officers had been overseeing aspects of the electoral roll revision exercise.
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The standoff continued late into the night before police and paramilitary forces intervened and safely evacuated the officials around 1 am.
Reports indicated that the rescue operation faced resistance, with some vehicles attacked and damaged during the evacuation. Visuals from the scene showed shattered windows and stone-pelting by agitated protesters.
Banerjee acknowledged public anger over the voter list revision but criticised the Election Commission for failing to maintain order. The controversy has added to political tensions in the state ahead of polling.
With the Supreme Court taking a serious view, the incident is likely to remain a key issue in the run-up to the elections.
