The Aryavarth Express:
New Delhi, April 3:Former Chief Protocol and Joint Director of the Election Commission of India, Mohd Amin, has strongly criticised the West Bengal government over the recent hostage crisis in Malda, calling the incident “shameful” and deserving of condemnation.
Speaking on Thursday, Amin also referred to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, describing it as a legally backed process aimed at ensuring the purity of voter lists. He noted that the process has the endorsement of the Supreme Court of India.
“What happened in Malda is a very shameful matter; such incidents must be condemned,” Amin said.
NIA Probe Ordered into Incident
The crisis unfolded on April 1 in Malda district of West Bengal, where seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage by villagers.
Following directions from the Supreme Court, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has handed over the investigation to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The agency is expected to begin its probe immediately
A preliminary report will be submitted directly to the Supreme Court
The next hearing is scheduled for April 6, 2026
Supreme Court Expresses Serious Concern
The Supreme Court described the incident as a “brazen and deliberate attempt to obstruct the administration of justice.”
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant raised concerns over:
Lack of timely protection for judicial officers
Officers reportedly being left without food and water for hours
Failure of state authorities despite prior intimation
The Court issued show-cause notices to senior state officials, including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, and Director-General of Police.
It also directed:
Deployment of adequate central forces
Strict security at SIR-related venues
Immediate threat assessment for officers and their families
Submission of compliance reports
Political Reactions Intensify
The incident has triggered sharp political reactions:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed the situation “shocking” and alleged a breakdown of law and order
Questions were raised about whether political provocation contributed to the unrest
The ruling party led by Mamata Banerjee has earlier criticised aspects of the electoral process, including the SIR
Trigger: Electoral Roll Revision
The standoff was reportedly triggered by mass deletions from electoral rolls under the SIR process. This led to:
Widespread protests across Malda
Road blockades on highways and rural routes
Disruptions in at least five Assembly constituencies
Background: West Bengal Elections
The developments come amid rising political tension ahead of the upcoming state Assembly elections in West Bengal:
Voting dates: April 23 and April 29
Counting: May 4
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the All India Trinamool Congress secured a landslide victory with 213 seats, while the BJP won 77 seats.
