Kolkata, April 3 An NIA team visited the Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations in Malda on Thursday to investigate the siege of seven judicial officers by protesting locals over the deletion of names in the SIR exercise, officials said.
The NIA has been tasked by the Election Commission to investigate the incident that occurred on Wednesday, following a directive from the Supreme Court, which has criticized the West Bengal administration over the issue.
The 24-member team of the federal anti-terror probe agency, led by an official of DIG rank, spoke to police and other personnel at Mothabari and collected samples from the site where a mob had gathered and allegedly hurled bricks at vehicles when security forces attempted to lift the blockade.
The NIA officials also visited the neighboring Kaliachak police station since a section of National Highway 12 under its jurisdiction was blocked by the demonstrators, a senior district police official said.
A total of 19 cases have been registered in the Mothabari and Kaliachak police stations. The West Bengal Police arrested two persons, including the alleged mastermind of the siege, from Bagdogra airport in Siliguri on Friday, bringing the total number of arrests to 35.
