TMC, BJP trade barbs after mastermind AIMIM leader held for Malda hostage crisis

Advocate and AIMIM leader, Mofakkarul Islam, has been named as the mastermind of the hostage situation in Bengal's Malda on April 1. He was arrested at Siliguri's Bagdogra airport while trying to flee.

In Short

• 7 judicial officers were held hostage for around 9 hours in Malda on April 1
• TMC alleges mastermind Mofakkarul Islam is BJP agent, they claims he's close to ruling party
• Supreme Court condemns incident, calls Bengal highly polarised

Following the arrest of Mofakkarul Islam, who was named as the mastermind of the Malda hostage situation in poll-bound Bengal on April 1, a new political flashpoint has emerged between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP. The TMC has claimed that Islam and two others – with one being the husband of a Bihar BJP leader - are BJP agents. Meanwhile, the saffron side has alleged that Islam is close to the ruling party and has also shared a series of pictures, showing him on posters and on stage with TMC boss and Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

"These are the three BJP agents, who orchestrated the unrest in Malda. Jayant Kant – police observer of Mothabari, Malda. He is the husband of a senior BJP leader from Bihar. Maulana Muhammad Shahjahan Ali Qadri — ISF candidate from Mothabari, arrested on charges of organising the agitation. Mofakkerul Islam — AIMIM leader and 2021 candidate, mastermind behind the hostage situation. BJP running a full-scale operation to destabilise Bengal through their multi-layered agents," TMC tweeted at 2.55 pm on Friday.

The ruling party shared pictures of the three leaders with the post.

Thirty-five minutes later, the BJP hit back. They shared multiple pictures of Islam with various TMC leaders, including two that had him on a poster with Mamata Banerjee and another on stage with her.

"Meet Moffakerul Islam. Close to TMC leaders, led mob against judicial officers in Malda. He was arrested for leading a rioting mob against judicial officers engaged in SIR duties. Such people have been allowed to conduct violent protests and activities by the TMC for over a decade now. The people of West Bengal are saying #BanchteChaiBJPTai," the BJP tweeted.

Meanwhile, Bengal Police sources told India Today that Islam is a close aide of TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee, and is also a supporter of the ruling party.

So far, as many as 19 people have been arrested, including Islam. He was apprehended at the Bagdogra airport in Bengal's Siliguri while trying to flee.

The April 1 incident spanned nearly nine hours and saw seven judicial officers allegedly being kept hostage by protesters at the Kaliachak II Block Development Office in Malda. The protesters had sought a meeting with the judicial officers present at the BDO office. These officers were involved in reviewing the cases of electors put under "adjudication" following the final release of the SIR list in the poll-bound state.

However, Bengal Police sources told India Today that Islam's name is present in the final list.

A video also surfaced showing Mofakkerul Islam openely challenging government officials, including the collector and the Superintendent of Police, during the protest. "Oye DM, oye SP who is the CID? Where is the IB? Where are you all? Come here," he was heard in the clip.

The judicial officers were only rescued, at around 1 am, by a police team. Even then, protesters threw stones at the police van while the officers were being evacuated. Multiple visuals on social media showed a car's broken window glass and protesters chasing police vehicles as the officers were taken to safety.

The incident has invited a sharp rebuke from the Supreme Court, who called it pre-planned and motivated. It also termed Bengal the "most polarised state" in the country. "This incident is a brazen attempt not only to browbeat judicial officers but also challenge the authority of this court...We have never seen such a polarised state. That even in compliance with court orders, politics is reflected," Chief Justice Surya Kant minced no words during the hearing on Thursday.

Bengal will go to the polls in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with the counting of votes scheduled on May 4.

- Ends