NIA Makes First Arrests in Malda Mothabari Violence Investigation
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has made its first arrests in connection with the violent incident that occurred in Mothabari, Malda district, on April 1. In a significant development, the agency has taken into custody two Congress functionaries and one worker from the Indian Secular Front (ISF).
Details of the Arrests and Detentions
Those arrested have been identified as Sahadat Hossain, a functionary of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Asif Sk, the president of the district Chhatra Parishad, and Golam Rabbani, a gram panchayat member affiliated with the ISF. Additionally, Congress candidate Sayem Choudhury was detained by the NIA for questioning but was subsequently released after the interrogation process.
According to NIA officials, Choudhury, Hossain, and Asif were initially detained during a political rally and transported to the agency's office in Farakka for further investigation. The agency's preliminary findings indicate that the April 1 violence was not a spontaneous event but rather a pre-planned incident involving a multi-layered conspiracy.
Background of the Mothabari Violence Incident
The violent episode unfolded on April 1 when hundreds of villagers, many of whom claimed their names had been deleted from the voter list, surrounded and gheraoed the Kaliachak-II block office in Mothabari. The situation escalated to a critical level, resulting in seven judicial magistrates being held captive for several hours. Police forces eventually secured their release late at night, but not before National Highway 12 was blocked by the agitated crowd.
Investigators have revealed that Rabbani held a meeting the day before the violence, while Asif and Sahadat were present during the agitation. So far, twelve separate cases have been officially lodged in connection with the incident, and a total of 49 individuals have been arrested by various law enforcement agencies.
Political Reactions and Ongoing Custody
In a related development, ISF's Mothabari candidate Maulana Shahjahan Ali remains in custody as part of the broader investigation. Following his release, Congress candidate Sayem Choudhury made serious allegations, claiming a nexus between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) behind the arrests. He characterized the original protest as a peaceful demonstration against the deletion of voter names from the electoral rolls.
TMC candidate Nazrul Islam has firmly dismissed these allegations, refuting any political conspiracy. The NIA continues its probe into the matter, focusing on uncovering the full extent of the alleged conspiracy and identifying all individuals involved in planning and executing the violent events of April 1.
