Chaos in Malda: 7 Judicial Officers Held Hostage as Protests Erupt Over Mass Voter Deletions
Chaos in Malda: 7 Judicial Officers
Held Hostage as Protests Erupt
Over Mass Voter Deletions
MALDA / NEW DELHI | April 2, 2026
In a shocking escalation of pre-poll tensions in West Bengal, seven judicial officers—including three women—were held hostage for over nine hours by an angry mob in Malda district. The incident, which unfolded at the Kaliachak-II Block Development Office (BDO), has triggered a suomotu intervention by the Supreme Court and sparked a fierce political slugfest between the TMC and BJP.
The Standoff at Kaliachak
The judicial officers were stationed at the BDO office to adjudicate cases under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. According to reports, several thousand villagers surrounded the building around 4:00 PM on Wednesday, protesting the large-scale deletion of names from the voters' list.
Protesters alleged that despite submitting genuine documents, their names were struck off, leaving them disenfranchised just weeks before the state goes to the polls on April 23 and 29. The situation turned volatile as the mob blocked all exits with bamboo poles and set tyres ablaze on National Highway 12.
Midnight Rescue Operation
The officers remained confined without food for over nine hours in sweltering conditions. It was only after midnight that a massive contingent of police and paramilitary forces launched a rescue operation.
The Escape:
As the officers were being escorted out around 1:00 AM, the mob reportedly pelted stones, vandalizing vehicles and injuring a police constable.
Casualties:
While initial reports from some political quarters suggested a female officer was severely assaulted, official police sources have only confirmed minor injuries to security personnel during the extraction.
Supreme Court Raps State Administration
The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, took a stern view of the incident today, describing it as a "calculated attempt" to derail the judicial process."This was not a routine incident. It was a deliberate move to demoralize judicial officers and impact the ongoing adjudication of objections," the CJI remarked, noting that he personally monitored the situation until 2:00 AM.
The Apex Court has directed the Election Commission (EC) to requisition central forces to protect judicial officers and their families. It is also considering a CBI or NIA probe into the lapse of security.
Political Blame Game
The TMC Stand: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern but distanced the state administration from the lapse, noting that the police and officials are currently under the EC's jurisdiction. She alleged that the BJP is "provoking" people to create a law-and-order crisis to justify the imposition of President’s Rule.
The BJP Charge:
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar blamed the Chief Minister’s "instigating statements" for the violence, labeling the situation as "scary" and a complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery.
What is the SIR Row?
The controversy stems from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), a process mandated to clean up electoral rolls. In West Bengal, over 60 lakh voters were placed under adjudication. While 49 lakh cases have been disposed of, the sudden deletion of over a lakh names in Malda alone has left many citizens in a state of panic.As of Thursday afternoon, fresh blockades have been reported at the Narayanpur and Jodupur crossings on NH-12, suggesting that the unrest is far from over.
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