A team of 40 National Investigation Agency (NIA) officials, led by DIG, arrived in Malda on Friday to investigate the harassment of seven judicial officers at Kaliachak-II block office.

They were accompanied by 60 central Army jawans. They visited the Block Development Office (BDO) complex in the area where the officers were held hostage on Wednesday night.

Additionally, NIA IG Sonia Singh also landed in Kolkata to oversee the investigation.

The move comes two days after judicial officers engaged in adjudication of logical discrepancy cases of over 60 lakh voters in poll-bound West Bengal were held inside a BDO office in the Kaliachak-II area of Malda district on Wednesday evening, as residents gheraoed it from outside.

The Election Commission transferred the probe to NIA on Supreme Court orders after the top court slammed West Bengal’s administration for Wednesday’s violence.  The SC directed CBI or NIA to investigate the incident.

On Friday, the NIA officers visited Mothabari police station, Kaliachak-II block office, and inspected the roads where the judges’ cars were attacked.

The team is also collecting CCTV footage from Mothabari police station and the BDO office. However, the NIA officials who remained at the block office till evening but did not comment to the media.

According to sources, the NIA team is probing the police response, seeking details on obstacles faced during the rescue. Officials spoke to personnel on duty and the area’s circle inspector.

As NIA arrived, many locals fled the area, shutting shops to avoid questioning.

The CID, additionally, arrested Mofakkerul Islam, the main accused, from Bagdogra Airport on Friday morning on the charge of inciting the incident. A total of 35 people have been arrested so far.