Malda Security Scare: Judicial Officers Flagged Risks to DM Days Before Gherao, Raising Questions Over Administrative Changes & If Warnings Were Ignored ‘Deliberately’

Malda, West Bengal: Days before judicial officers were confined for hours during protests in Malda’s Kaliachak-II block, multiple officers had formally warned the district administration about a potential security breakdown—raising serious concerns over preparedness, administrative decisions, and subsequent political developments.

According to official correspondence accessed by News The Truth (NTT), at least four judicial officers wrote to the Malda District Magistrate on March 23, flagging what they described as an “increasingly sensitive” situation in the area. The officers expressed apprehension that public anger over deletions from electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) could escalate into a law-and-order issue.
“There is a strong likelihood of breach of security by aggrieved members of the public,” one of the officers noted in the communication, as per sources familiar with the letter.

The officers also requested relocation of their working premises to Malda town, citing not only security concerns but logistical challenges, including long travel distances, dependence on escorts, and inadequate infrastructure at the existing site.
NTT has learned from sources in the district judiciary that the concerns were formally routed through proper administrative channels. Crucially, no authority has denied the existence or contents of this letter so far, lending weight to questions over whether adequate preventive steps were taken.

Warning Ignored?
On April 1, hundreds of protesters gathered outside the BDO office at Kaliachak-II, eventually leading to a gherao situation where judicial officers and staff were effectively held inside for almost 12 hours before being rescued. The incident has since triggered national attention, with questions being raised about administrative foresight and accountability - particularly in light of prior warnings. The developments gain further significance when seen alongside a series of administrative changes ordered by the Election Commission of India (ECI): The District Magistrate (DM) of Malda was replaced on March 18, a day prior to that soon after the announcement of polls, the SP of Malda was replaced on March 17. According to Trinamool Congress (TMC), these changes may have contributed to weakening the local administrative grip at a sensitive time. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sharply criticised the moves, alleging that such transfers make districts more vulnerable. “A known officer always has better control over the ground situation. Sudden changes weaken administrative understanding of local dynamics,” she said at a recent election address in Malda while squaring holding BJP, AIMIM and ISF responsible for the violence. TMC leaders have claimed that the newly appointed police observer has direct links with the BJP, alleging that his spouse is associated with the saffron party. These claims have not been independently verified.


“These are the three @BJP4India agents who orchestrated the unrest in Malda:

1️⃣ Jayant Kant – Police Observer of Mothabari, Malda. He is the husband of a senior BJP leader from Bihar.

2️⃣ Maulana Muhammad Shahjahan Ali Qadri — ISF candidate from Mothabari. Arrested on charges of organising the agitation.

3️⃣ 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. Bengal has identified every player. Bengal has connected every dot” TMC posted on their official ‘X’ handle on Thursday.


Mamata Banerjee has alleged that Malda incident was “scripted to defame Bengal”, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of acting “in cohorts” with the Election Commission of India. “First the officers are changed, then new observers are brought in, and then such incidents happen - this is a planned attempt to malign Bengal,” Banerjee alleged. Over 20 people have been arrested in connection with the case - including Mofakkeral Islam, an advocate and former AIMIM candidate who fought in the 2021 election. He was picked up the state CID from Bagdogra airport. There are multiple viral videos doing rounds where the man could be seen making charged up speeches from the roof of a car - now documented as speeches that probably have incited the crowd. On April 2, the Supreme Court slammed the West Bengal administration over the violence and called it a collapse of law and order situation.. The Election Commission of India has handed over the probe to the NIA.​