NIA Cracks Down in Malda: 68 Arrests Amid Judicial Hostage Crisis

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested 14 more individuals linked to the gherao of judicial officers in West Bengal's Malda district. The incident, which unfolded during a protest over voter list deletions, saw judicial officers held hostage. The total number of arrests has reached 68.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) intensified its crackdown following the confinement of judicial officers in West Bengal's Malda district. The NIA arrested 14 more persons linked to the incident, bringing the total number of those detained to 68, officials reported on Tuesday.

The latest round of arrests came after authorities conducted extensive searches in the Kaliachak and Mothabari areas of Malda. Investigators identified the suspects as directly involved in the harassment and hostage situation last month, where seven judicial officers were detained inside a Block Development Office, while an eighth was held in a vehicle for hours.

This unfolding controversy, involving alleged electoral violence, has put a spotlight on law enforcement efforts as the state braces for assembly elections. The NIA, following Supreme Court orders, took over the investigation and is actively pursuing additional leads.