The Election Commission of India has sought a report from West Bengal Director General of Police Siddhanath Gupta over the unrest in Malda triggered by allegations of exclusion of names from the voter list.
According to Commission sources, the matter has also been communicated to Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Sujoy Paul.
Tension escalated across Mothabari, Sujapur and adjoining areas in Malda on Wednesday as protests broke out over the alleged omission of names from the electoral rolls.
Demonstrators blocked the Kolkata–Siliguri (NH-12) highway and staged protests outside the Kaliachak-II block office.
At the time, seven judicial officers engaged in work related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were inside the block office.
Protesters gheraoed the premises, leaving the officials confined from around 4 p.m. until midnight. Police later intervened and rescued them.
There were allegations of attempts to attack police vehicles during the rescue operation. Visuals from the scene showed broken glass inside one of the vehicles.
Protesters, however, alleged that police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd. They also claimed that during the convoy’s movement, a vehicle hit a protester, leaving him injured.
The individual is currently undergoing treatment.
Protesters maintained that several genuine voters had their names removed from the rolls despite possessing valid documents.
The demonstrations and road blockades were called to press for restoration of their names.
However, police had cleared most blockades across the district, and traffic movement on NH-12 resumed by Thursday morning.
Police pickets have been set up in sensitive areas, while central forces are conducting patrols. However, protesters have warned of fresh agitations if their names are not reinstated in the voter list.
Amid the developments, the Election Commission has formally sought a detailed report from the state police chief on the Malda incident.