Chaos erupts in Bengal Malda district after shocking breakdown of law and order. A judicial officer heard pleading for help after came under mob attack late night. The incident occurs when the protestors block the roads with debris and bamboo. They upset over removal of names from voter rolls during Special Intensive Revision (SIR). It turns the area into hostile zones.
SC slams Bengal over mob attack
The mob later targeted the officer’s vehicle as it tried to navigate the blocked route. In a dramatic turn of events, at least seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage for over nine hours by a large crowd claiming they were wrongfully excluded from the electoral list.
Political blame game become intense
The political blame game has intensified. The ruling Trinamool Congress has accused the ECI which is responsible for maintaining law and order during the Model Code of Conduct, of mishandling the situation.
This unrest occurs amid the contentious SIR exercise. Judicial officers from the Calcutta High Court and nearby states are racing against time to handle nearly 60 lakh cases related to voter roll revisions. This follows a prolonged standoff between the ECI and the state government, which had previously stalled the revision process.
With the West Bengal Assembly elections set for two phases on April 23 and 29, this incident has raised serious concerns about ground-level security and the smooth conduct of the electoral process.
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