A total of 18 individuals, including Maulana Shahjan Ali, an All India Secular Front (AISF) candidate from the Mothabari Assembly constituency in West Bengal’s Malda district, were apprehended by Thursday afternoon. They were arrested in connection with the harassment of seven judicial adjudication officers in Kaliachak on Wednesday night. Shahjan Ali, while being presented in court, claimed innocence and stated that he was falsely implicated due to his AISF candidacy.
The incident involved seven judicial officers, including three women, who were held captive by voters at a block office in Kaliachak. Following a nine-hour ordeal, a significant police force intervened, dispersed the protesters, and safely rescued the officers. Despite the rescue, there were reports of an attempted attack on the convoy while the officers were being relocated to a secure area.
A division bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Surya Kant, strongly criticized the incident, labeling it as a severe breakdown of law and order in West Bengal. The bench instructed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to transfer the investigation to either the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Additionally, notices were issued to key officials, including the West Bengal Chief Secretary, Director General of Police, Home Secretary, and local authorities, seeking explanations to avoid potential contempt proceedings.
