A leader from West Bengal’s Malda district, Sayem Chowdhary alias Babu Chowdhary, has been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with pre-poll violence related to SIR activities. Chowdhary, a resident of Mothbari in Malda, was taken into custody by the NIA team in Kolkata after questioning.
The NIA has arrested a total of 30 individuals in the case, RC-14/2026/NIA/DLI. The agency is investigating multiple incidents of mob protests and illegal detention of judicial officers during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls in Malda before the state’s Assembly polls.
Investigations revealed that Chowdhary played a significant role in the illegal detention of judicial officers at the BDO Office Block-II on April 1. He was part of a mob that disrupted law and order, attacking police personnel on duty, resulting in injuries to nine officers.
Chowdhary allegedly delivered an instigating speech in front of the BDO office, encouraging violent protests. He conspired with other accused individuals, actively participating in unlawful assemblies that engaged in violence, intimidation, and obstruction during the SIR exercise.
The NIA continues its investigation to identify all involved in the larger conspiracy behind the pre-poll violence. The agency initiated the probe following the Supreme Court’s directives, which took suo motu cognizance of the April violence in Malda.
