'Mastermind' of judicial officers' gherao in West Bengal's Malda arrested from Bagdogra airport

The accused, identified as advocate Mofakkarul Islam, was arrested while he was trying to board a flight.

PTI, Apr 03, 2026, Kolkata :  The West Bengal Police on Friday arrested two persons, including the alleged mastermind of the gherao of seven judicial officers in Malda district, from Siliguri's Bagdogra airport, a senior officer said.

The alleged mastermind, identified as advocate Mofakkarul Islam, was arrested while he was trying to board a flight, he said.

"He is the mastermind of the Kaliachak incident in which seven judicial officers were gheraoed inside a block office for several hours on Wednesday night. He was trying to board a flight to flee," the officer said.

Speaking to reporters, ADG (North Bengal) K Jayaraman said Mofakkarul Islam hails from Itahar in Uttar Dinajpur district and was currently residing in Kolkata.

Three cases have been registered against him at Kaliachak police station for allegedly "instigating" locals through speeches on Wednesday, following which the seven judicial officers were gheraoed inside the Kaliachak-2 block office under Mothabari assembly constituency, he said.

"We started tracking Mofakkarul Islam after the incident, and with the help of West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Siliguri Police, nabbed him and his associate from Bagdogra airport. Three cases were lodged against him for instigating locals in three different places," he said, adding that a total of 19 cases have been lodged in connection with the Kaliachak incident.

The police officer said that despite the National Investigation Agency (NIA) taking over the probe, the West Bengal Police would continue with their investigation to determine whether the incident was "pre-planned" and whether more people were involved.

With the latest apprehension, the police have so far arrested 35 people, including an ISF candidate, for their alleged involvement in the incident, he added.

Meanwhile, an NIA team visited Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations in Malda on Thursday to probe into the gherao of seven judicial officers by protesting locals over the deletion of names in the SIR exercise, officials said.

The NIA has been tasked by the Election Commission to probe into the Wednesday incident, following a directive from the Supreme Court, which has censured the West Bengal administration over the issue.

The 24-member team of the federal anti-terror probe agency, led by a DIG-ranked official, spoke to police and other personnel at Mothabari and collected samples from the spot where a mob had gathered and allegedly hurled bricks at vehicles when security forces had tried to lift the blockade.