Bengal the Most Polarised State

• Orders inquiry into the incident

• Orders to provide full protection to the officers

New Delhi – On 01.04.2026, a few officers were held hostages at Malda, a Muslim dominating district in Bengal. The officers were conducting voter-roll revisions (Special Intensive Revision -SIR) in Malda, Bengal. The Supreme Court has taken a serious note of the same and directed the Election Commission to conduct investigations into the incident either through NIA (the National Investigation Agency) or CBI (the Central Bureau of Investigation); so also, to deploy the Central Security Force for the protection of  the officers conducting SIR. The Court stated during the hearing that holding the seven judicial officers, including three women officers, as hostages is most condemnable. It was a pre-planned and deliberate act. Everyone is speaking only political language in Bengal. I was personally keeping a watch on the situation till 2.00 a.m. and we know the people involved in this incident. Bengal is the most polarised State in India. The Court has ordered the Central Security Force to provide security to the judicial officers even at their residences while directing to take immediate security measures by evaluating the situation if any danger was posed before any judicial officer or their family members.

What happened in Malda ?

There were violent agitations staged at Kaliachak in Malda district of Bengal to protest against omission of names from the voters list. The furious mob ‘gheraoed’ BDO and damaged the office as well as vehicles. The seven judicial officers, including three lady judges, who had gone there in connection with the work related to voters’ list, were held hostages for 8-9 hours. After this incident, and orders issued by Chief Justice Suryakant, the administration became active and the situation was brought under control under strict orders. There was stone-pelting too at the site. The Police and Central Armed Police Force were taking out the judicial officers, even then, stones were pelted at them.

Editorial Perspective

Such kind of incident happening in Bengal is not surprising. The Court has issued orders now but considering the law and order situation in the State, there is no guarantee that similar incident would not take place in future.