Murshidabad/Malda: Mofakkerul Islam, a leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and an advocate at the Calcutta High Court, has been arrested in connection with the Mothabari incident in Malda district. According to police sources, Mofakkerul was apprehended on Friday morning at Bagdogra Airport while attempting to board a flight to Bengaluru. Another individual was also arrested alongside him.

Mofakkerul faces serious allegations, including delivering provocative remarks and issuing threats against the administration. Police claim that on Wednesday, he addressed a gathering in Mothabari while standing atop a passenger vehicle and using a handheld microphone, during which he allegedly made inflammatory statements.

Officials further stated that action was taken following directives linked to the Supreme Court of India, after which the Election Commission of India issued an arrest warrant against him on Thursday. Mofakkerul Islam, 40, hails from Porsa Hatkhola in Itahar, located in North Dinajpur district. He has practised law at the Raiganj Court and has also appeared before the Calcutta High Court. He maintains a residence in Kolkata. He joined AIMIM in 2021 and contested the West Bengal Assembly elections the same year as the party’s candidate from the Itahar constituency. Over the years, he has been associated with several mass movements in the region.

AIMIM Leader Mofakkerul Islam Held at Bagdogra Airport

Following the Mothabari incident, police have launched a large-scale crackdown across Malda district. Authorities confirmed that 19 cases have been registered so far, and at least 35 individuals have been arrested in connection with the unrest. Addressing a press conference, North Bengal Additional Director General of Police K. Jayaraman said, “Nineteen cases have been registered regarding this incident, and 35 people have been arrested. We received intelligence that the accused, Mofakkerul, was at Bagdogra Airport; he was arrested immediately thereafter.” Tensions continue to prevail in parts of Malda, with security tightened to prevent further escalation.

A wave of anger and unrest has swept across the district as protests intensify over allegations of large-scale exclusions from the voter list under the Supplementary Inclusion Roll (SIR). From prolonged highway blockades to clashes with police, the situation has escalated into one of the most serious episodes of electoral discontent in recent times. The epicentre of the agitation has been a crucial arterial route connecting north and south Bengal. Beginning early Wednesday morning, thousands of agitated residents blocked the highway, bringing traffic to a complete standstill for over 15 hours. The blockade, which started around 9:00 AM, continued uninterrupted until approximately 12:40 AM the following night, leaving thousands of vehicles stranded on both sides.

The protests stem from allegations that the names of numerous legitimate voters have been arbitrarily deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR process. Protesters claim that despite submitting all required documentation during verification hearings, their names appeared in lists of cancelled entries. Residents like Azmul Sheikh and Abdul Haque expressed their frustration, stating that they had no choice but to take to the streets. “We followed every instruction of the Commission and submitted all documents. Yet our names have been struck off. What else could we do?” they said during the blockade.

Malda Voter Deletions Trigger Massive Highway Blockades

The protest sites took on a semi-organised character, with demonstrators sitting on the highway for hours. Women, many accompanied by children, participated in large numbers. Food was arranged for protesters and stranded commuters alike—khichuri was served on leaf plates, while bread was distributed to bus passengers, truck drivers, and helpers. Ambulances, however, were allowed to pass, reflecting a conscious effort to maintain humanitarian considerations.

Despite the deployment of a massive contingent of police and central forces, authorities struggled to bring the situation under control. Senior officials from the district administration, along with top police officers, held multiple rounds of discussions with the protesters, but these talks failed to yield any breakthrough. The scale and intensity of the blockade rendered alternative traffic arrangements ineffective. Reports indicate that similar protests erupted simultaneously in multiple parts of the district, preventing authorities from diverting vehicles through alternate routes.

In a dramatic turn of events, seven Judicial Magistrates engaged in SIR-related duties found themselves stranded due to the unrest. The group, which included three women judges, was attempting to reach the district headquarters via the Mothabari bypass route when they were caught in the protests. They were eventually rescued shortly after midnight under heavy police and central force security. Authorities escorted them safely to their destination, though the operation was reportedly fraught with tension. Allegations have surfaced that protesters attempted to block roads using bamboo poles to prevent movement. Prior to the rescue, police reportedly resorted to a baton charge to disperse crowds gathered near the Kaliachak-II Block Office, where the officials had been stranded.

Judicial Officers Rescued Mid-Unrest by Security Forces

The situation remains volatile, with allegations and counter-allegations adding to the tension. Locals have claimed that police fired shots while attempting to control the crowd, though the administration has firmly denied these accusations. The Superintendent of Police has been present on the ground, overseeing operations as authorities attempt to restore normalcy. However, distrust between protesters and the administration continues to widen.

Sources within the Election Commission have indicated that the matter has been brought to the attention of the High Court. A report has also been sought from the Director General of State Police. Officials at Nabanna have refrained from making any public statements on the issue. Even as the situation in Sujapur remained tense, fresh protests erupted on Thursday morning in Narayanpur. Residents blocked roads, raising the same demands regarding voter list corrections.

Protester Sheikh Bapi accused the Election Commission of bias, alleging that it was acting under political influence. He further claimed that the use of artificial intelligence in processing voter data was flawed. “This AI does not understand Bengali—it only distinguishes between ‘Hindu’ and ‘Muslim’,” he alleged, reflecting a deep mistrust in the system. Another protester, Mainul Sheikh, alleged that voter deletions were disproportionately affecting minority-dominated areas. He pointed out inconsistencies in the Commission’s assurances, stating that even individuals whose parents were listed in earlier voter rolls, such as those from 2002, were now being excluded on grounds of “logical discrepancies.”

Protesters Slam AI Flaws and Bias in Voter List Changes

The unrest took a violent turn in English Bazar, particularly in the Jadupur area. Beginning around 10:00 AM, a large crowd assembled and blocked roads while holding national flags. While the protest initially remained peaceful, tensions escalated with the arrival of police forces. An agitated mob attacked a police vehicle in the Jadupur Bypass area, vandalising it and injuring the driver, who suffered a head wound after being struck by a brick. The incident marked a significant escalation in the protests.

Residents, including Mohammad Rabiul Sheikh, Dukhuni Bibi, and Mohammad Azharuddin, claimed that over 300 voters had been removed from the rolls in Booth Nos. 26 and 27 alone. They further alleged that around 250 additional voters were uncertain about their status, creating widespread anxiety. The protests were not confined to isolated pockets. Demonstrations and road blockades were reported from several areas across Malda and neighbouring districts. In Chandipur, within the Kazigram Gram Panchayat area, residents staged similar protests.

In the Mothabari Assembly constituency, agitation intensified significantly, with residents taking to the streets in large numbers. Beyond Malda, protests also spread to areas such as Dautalpur in Harishchandrapur-II Block and Purba Kashimpur in Hemtabad Block of North Dinajpur, indicating a broader regional impact. The issue has also taken a political turn, with leaders raising serious concerns over the voter list revisions. State minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sabina Yasmin launched a sit-in protest at the administrative office of Kaliachak-I block, raising the slogan, “First the voter, then the vote.”
Minister Sabina Yasmin Joins Sit-In Against Voter Removal

Sabina, who currently represents Mothabari and is contesting from Sujapur, highlighted the scale of the issue. She alleged that the constituency has the highest number of pending voter cases in the state and questioned whether the exclusions were linked to the area’s demographic composition. “We are going to seek votes, but people are asking us how they can vote if their names are not on the list. We have no answers,” she said.

She further claimed that in several polling booths, between 250 and 400 names had been removed arbitrarily, raising serious concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process. The ongoing unrest in Malda underscores deeper concerns about electoral integrity and administrative accountability. The use of technology, including AI-based systems, in voter list management has come under scrutiny, with critics questioning its reliability and potential biases.

At the same time, the protests highlight the vulnerability of ordinary citizens who find themselves excluded from the democratic process. For many, the right to vote is not merely a legal entitlement but a fundamental expression of citizenship. As tensions continue to simmer, the coming days will be crucial. The administration faces the dual challenge of restoring law and order while addressing the grievances of thousands of affected voters. With a four-day deadline issued by protesters, pressure is mounting on authorities to act swiftly and decisively. For now, Malda remains on edge—its highways intermittently blocked, its administration under strain, and its people demanding answers to a question that lies at the heart of democracy: who gets to vote, and who decides?