NIA begins probe into gherao of judicial officials engaged in SIR in Bengal's Malda

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations in West Bengal's Malda on Friday to probe into the gherao of seven judicial during protests against the deletion of names in the Special Intensive revision (SIR) exercise by the Election Commission of India.

The case was handed over to the NIA by the EC on Thursday , after an order from the Supreme Court, which came down heavily on the West Bengal administration over the issue.

A DIG-level officer led the 24-member team of the federal anti-terror probe agency. The officials spoke with the police and other personnel at Mothabari.

They also collected samples from the spot where the mob allegedly hurled bricks at vehicles when security forces had tried to lift the blockade.

The team then visited the neighbouring Kaliachak police station since a stretch of the National Highway 12 under its purview was blocked by the demonstrators, a senior district police official told PTI.

As many as 19 cases have been registered at the two police stations.

On Friday, the West Bengal Police arrested two people, including the alleged mastermind of the incident, from Siliguri's Bagdogra airport, taking the total number of arrests to 35.