The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which took over the investigation into the gherao of seven judicial officials involved in the SIR adjudication process in Malda two weeks ago, made its first arrest in the case on Sunday. The central agency arrested a panchayat member belonging to the Indian Secular Front (ISF), Golam Rabbani, and detained the Congress candidate from Mothabari Assembly constituency Sayem Chowdhury, and his seven associates, sources said.
Chowdhury was picked up with his associates while he was campaigning in the Alinagar panchayat area on Sunday.
“We are questioning Chowdhury and verifying his involvement in the incident. If we get proper evidence against him, he will be arrested,” a senior NIA official said.
Earlier, West Bengal CID, which was probing the incident, had arrested 35 people, including AIMIM activist and lawyer Mofakkerul Islam.
Sources said that NIA arrested Rabbani after his name cropped up during the questioning of the AIMIM member.
According to the CID, Mofakkerul Islam is the mastermind of the case who allegedly incited people to gherao the BDO office and was seen giving an instigating speech just before the incident.
The NIA has sought the custody of all 35 people arrested by the CID.
Rabbani, meanwhile, is being brought to Kolkata.
“NIA officials think that from Rabbani they will be able to reach the other masterminds of the incident,” an NIA official said.
On April 1, people angry over the deletion of voters’ names from the electoral roll following the adjudication process gheraoed Kaliachowk-II BDO office. They did not let the seven judicial officials, including three women, leave the BDO office. As protesting villagers blocked the roads and highways, a police team managed to escort the judicial officials out of the office late in the night.
The next day, acting on the directions of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission handed over the investigation to the NIA.
In the meantime, West Bengal CID arrested 35 people. A team of 40 NIA officials, led by a DIG-rank officer, is currently camping in the state.
On Wednesday, the NIA registered FIRs – seven cases from the Mothabari Police Station and five from the Kalichak Police Station in Malda district.