AIMIM Leader Arrested In Malda Protest Case
One of Mofakkerul’s aides, Akramul Bagani, was also arrested with him. They had plans to fly to Bengaluru for escape, ADG (North Bengal) K Jayaraman said while adding, “Mofakkerul was the main instigator in the incident.
Kolkata: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police on Friday arrested AIMIM leader Mofakkerul Islam from Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri in connection with the Malda protest in which judicial officers were gheraoed and held for several hours.
One of his aides, Akramul Bagani, was also arrested. ADG (North Bengal) K. Jayaraman said, “Mofakkerul was the main instigator in the incident. He alongwith Akramul was caught by the CID on the request of assistance by Siliguri police.” He added that the two were attempting to fly to Bengaluru.
Police said the protest in Kaliachak in Malda on April 1 involved a road blockade and the gherao of judicial officers by a mob over alleged deletions of voters’ names during the special intensive revision (SIR).
Mofakkerul, a lawyer at the Calcutta High Court and originally from North Dinajpur, had contested the 2021 Assembly election from Itahar as an AIMIM candidate. He was seen in videos leading the protest and later went into hiding after being booked in multiple cases.
Following his arrest, he posted on social media, “Bhalo Thakun Apnara (Take Care)”, and in a video said, “I have been arrested from Bagdogra Airport for participating in the protest against deletions of voters' names.”
Akramul, who runs a digital channel, was also taken into custody. Both were produced before a court in Malda, which remanded them to 14 days of police custody.
Jayaraman said 35 persons have been arrested so far in 19 cases related to the protest, including charges linked to the blockade and detention of judicial officers.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the state agency acted promptly before the probe was handed over to the National Investigation Agency.
A 24-member team of the National Investigation Agency, led by Inspector General Sonia Singh, reached Malda and began its investigation.
The arrests and ongoing probe relate to the April 1 incident and subsequent law enforcement action.
