West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she was unaware that seven judicial officers had been held hostage overnight in Malda, blaming the Election Commission (EC) for taking control of the state administration ahead of the Assembly elections.
Addressing a rally in Murshidabad, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief said she only learned about the incident late at night and claimed that key administrative powers had effectively been transferred out of her hands.
‘Administration Not in My Control’
“I don’t know who is responsible… no one informed me,” Banerjee said, alleging that the Election Commission was now overseeing law and order in the state.
“The administration is not in my hand. The Election Commission is controlling law-and-order… they listen to Home Minister Amit Shah. Everyone has been changed… my powers have been transferred to the EC. It is ‘super President’s rule’,” she said.
She further accused the poll body of failing to maintain order, adding, “All my powers have been taken away. I have never seen such an Election Commission.”
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Supreme Court’s Sharp Reaction
Her remarks came hours after a strong observation from the Supreme Court, which took serious note of the Malda incident.
Chief Justice Surya Kant described the episode as a “calculated and motivated” challenge to judicial authority and indicated that a central agency, either the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the National Investigation Agency (NIA), could be tasked with probing the matter.
Nine-Hour Hostage Crisis in Malda
The incident unfolded in Malda district, where seven judicial officers, including three women, were allegedly detained by a mob protesting the deletion of names from the electoral rolls ahead of the two-phase Assembly election.
The situation escalated on Wednesday as large crowds gathered, angered by exclusions during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists, a process that has already sparked political controversy.
The officers were held for nearly nine hours before police and paramilitary forces intervened around 1 am on Thursday and moved them to safety.
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Tension Over Electoral Roll Revision
The revision of electoral rolls, ordered by the Election Commission, has been a flashpoint in the state’s political discourse. The TMC and other opposition parties have alleged that the exercise is aimed at removing voters sympathetic to them.
With polling set to begin on April 23, judicial officers are working against the clock to complete the SIR process.
Visuals from the scene showed damaged vehicles and stone-pelting during the evacuation, underlining the volatility on the ground.