Kolkata, June 2 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has charge sheeted 31 accused in four separate cases related to road blockades and the alleged illegal detention of judicial officers during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal’s Malda district.

The charge sheets were filed before the NIA Special Court in Kolkata based on digital and technical evidence, documentary records, witness statements and other material collected during the investigation into the incidents that took place ahead of the state Assembly elections in April.

The accused have been booked under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the National Highways Act, 1956, and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (WBMPO) Act, 1972.

According to the NIA, the charge sheets detail the specific role of each accused and establish their involvement in organising road blockades and unlawfully detaining or restraining judicial officers engaged in the electoral roll revision exercise at different locations in Malda.

The agency, which took over the probe following the Supreme Court’s suo motu cognisance and directions, found that the accused had acted in a coordinated manner to participate in unlawful assemblies, block public roads, obstruct the movement of government officials and wrongfully restrain judicial officers performing duties related to the SIR exercise.

The NIA said the actions of the accused disrupted a statutory electoral process, hindered public servants from discharging their official duties and adversely affected law and order in the region.

According to the agency, evidence gathered during the investigation clearly establishes that the unlawful activities interfered with constitutional and statutory processes and caused disruption to normal public life.

The NIA said further investigation is underway to identify, trace and prosecute other absconding accused and suspects allegedly involved in the conspiracy and related unlawful acts.

The case is linked to violence that erupted on April 1 at the Mothabari Block Office in Malda district during protests related to the electoral roll revision exercise.

According to officials, judicial officers engaged in the SIR exercise allegedly came under attack while performing official duties. Police later rescued the officers from the protest site, but authorities claimed that the convoy escorting them was attacked again while leaving the area.

–IANS

skp/uk