Kolkata: Amid the political storm over the Malda hostage crisis, Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged a “larger conspiracy” to destabilise West Bengal, warning that the BJP was attempting to engineer conditions for President’s Rule ahead of Assembly elections.
Addressing a public rally in Sagardighi, the Chief Minister blamed “outside provocation” for the violent turn of events in Kaliachak, where judicial officers on election duty were held hostage for hours. She urged people—particularly minority communities—to remain calm and not be “misled by attempts to create unrest and polarisation”.
“Keep protests peaceful. Don’t fall into the trap of outside forces or those acting at the BJP’s behest to create chaos,” Banerjee said.
Malda Flashpoint
The controversy stems from a dramatic incident in Kaliachak, where seven judicial officers, including three women, were confined by a mob for over nine hours during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The protest was reportedly triggered by deletion of names from voter lists, escalating into a prolonged standoff. The officers were finally rescued around 1 am after police and paramilitary forces intervened, exposing serious lapses in immediate response and security deployment.
Supreme Court Cracks Down
The incident drew sharp criticism from the Supreme Court of India, which termed it a “calculated and motivated” episode.
Chief Justice Surya Kant expressed strong concern, reportedly monitoring the situation till late night and calling it “very, very unfortunate”. The court flagged West Bengal as a “highly polarised state” and warned against any attempt to derail the electoral process.
The apex court has asked the Election Commission of India to consider a probe by central agencies such as the CBI or NIA, while directing authorities to ensure adequate protection for officials engaged in SIR duties.
Political Blame Game Intensifies
The ruling Trinamool Congress has blamed the Election Commission of India for mishandling the voter revision exercise, while opposition parties have accused the state government of failing to maintain law and order.
Banerjee, however, doubled down on her warning, urging voters to stay united and resist attempts to divide communities.
“This is a larger game plan to disrupt elections. The people must decide whether to allow such forces to succeed,” she said.
High Stakes Ahead
With elections approaching, the Malda episode has sharpened political fault lines, raising serious concerns over:
- Security of officials on election duty
- Handling of voter list revisions
- Rising polarisation in the state
The Supreme Court’s intervention underscores the gravity of the situation, signalling that any disruption to democratic processes will face strict scrutiny.
