Malda Hostage Shocker "Mastermind" Arrested, He Points To SIR Protest

Mofakkerul Islam, the 'mastermind' behind the huge protests and hostage shocker in West Bengal's Malda, has been arrested from the Siliguri Bagdogra airport. Along with Mofakkerul, his aide, Ekramul Bagni, was also arrested on the charges of instigating the incident.

According to the police, Mofakkerul was on his way to Bengaluru.

"We detained Mofakkerul Islam from Bagdogra airport for instigating people. We will not allow any such kind of activity. Will definitely probe if this was pre-planned or not. After this incident, we have given CAPF protection to judicial officers," Additional Director General of Police North Bengal, K Jayaraman, said.

A video of Mofakkerul purportedly giving a provocative speech to a crowd of protesters in Malda went viral.

Listen to this provocative speech from yesterday's protest in Malda.

Speaker identified as Mofakkerul Islam, Calcutta High Court advocate and former AIMIM candidate (2021).

Police are probing his role in last night's incident.pic.twitter.com/vkBIXPpYQJ

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) April 2, 2026

Reacting to his arrest, Mofakkerul - an advocate by profession - said that he was arrested because he was earlier spotted at a protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

"I've been arrested from Bagdogra Airport because I was at the spot where protests were being held against SIR," he said in a video statement.

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A resident of North Dinajpur, Mofakkerul has over three million followers on social media. He has been actively raising voice against cases like the CAA, NRC, and SIR. Given his popularity, Mofakkerul was given an All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) ticket to fight elections from the Itahar Assembly constituency in 2021. He was also made the North Zone charge at the time.

However, he was not given any responsibility after the new West Bengal AIMIM President, Imran Solanki, took charge in 2025.

Malda Hostage Shocker

A huge protest erupted in Malda on Wednesday, triggered by mass deletions from the electoral rolls under the ongoing SIR process ahead of this month's two-phase Assembly election. The situation quickly escalated when a large mob of voters whose names have been deleted from the list gheraoed seven judicial officers, including three women, and took them hostage around 3:30 pm.

The hostage situation continued for almost ten hours till a contingent of police and paramilitary personnel intervened and moved the officers to a safe location. This was around 1:30 am.

Reports said there was an attempt to attack the vehicles when the judicial officers were being evacuated, with visuals showing one car's window glass shattered and angry protesters throwing stones at vehicles as the cops escorted the judicial officers to safety.

According to the police, at least 35 people have been arrested in the case so far - with many having links with the AIMIM and the Indian Secular Front (ISF).

The cops also admitted there had been a delay in rescuing the officers; however, they ruled out any negligence on their part.

The Election Commission today handed over the probe into the case to the anti-terror agency NIA, following a Supreme Court directive.

Slamming the state administration for its "complete failure" and inaction over the "deplorable" gherao and attack on the officers during the Special Intensive Revision(SIR) of the voters list, the top court also asked the Election Commission to "requisition adequate Central Forces and deploy them at all places where judicial officers are adjudicating the objections".