18 Arrested in Malda Hostage Case as Supreme Court Flags “Premeditated” Nature of Incident

West Bengal police have arrested 18 individuals in connection with the Malda incident, where seven judicial officers were allegedly held hostage for several hours during a protest linked to electoral roll revision. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in Malda district, when a group of demonstrators, protesting the alleged deletion of names from voter lists under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, surrounded and confined the officials before they were eventually rescued.

The Supreme Court of India has taken serious note of the developments, raising concerns over the circumstances surrounding the episode. The Chief Justice of India observed that the incident appeared to be “calculated and premeditated,” indicating the possibility of a deliberate attempt to disrupt official duties and undermine institutional functioning.

The political escalation comes in the wake of strong observations by the Supreme Court of India, which took serious note of the incident and sharply criticized the West Bengal government. The Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant expressed concern over the safety of judicial officers and described the episode as a grave lapse in maintaining law and order further calling it a “calculated attempt.” Observing the deteriorating situation, Justice Kant stated, “It is the most unfortunate thing. I had been noting the developments until 2am. The state’s inaction remains highly deplorable.”

According to officials, tensions escalated rapidly in parts of Malda, particularly in areas near the National Highway, where protesters set up additional blockades. The situation turned volatile, prompting police intervention to disperse crowds and restore normalcy. Law enforcement agencies have since increased their presence in the area to prevent further escalation and maintain order.

On Wednesday night, seven judicial officers were reportedly held captive for more than nine hours after being gheraoed in Kaliachak, Malda, during protests against what demonstrators described as “arbitrary” large-scale deletions of voter names under the ongoing SIR process.

The unrest spread further, triggering widespread protests that led to the National Highway being blocked for over 15 hours. Large gatherings of protesters also brought several key connecting roads to a standstill.​