Kolkata: The criminal investigation department (CID) of West Bengal Police arrested AIMIM leader Mofakkerul Islam from Bagdogra Airport in Siliguri on Friday morning for masterminding the unprecedented protest during which seven judicial officers were gheraoed in a road blockade and held hostage for nine hours by angry mob against large scale deletions of ‘adjudicated’ voters’ names for logical discrepancies in thecriminal investigation department (Ccriminal investigation department criminal investigation department (C (SIR) in Malda two days ago.
One of Mofakkerul’s aides, Akramul Bagani, was also arrested with him. They had plans to fly to Bengaluru for escape, ADG (North Bengal) K Jayaraman said while adding, “Mofakkerul was the main instigator in the incident. He alongwith Akramul was caught by the CID on the request of assistance by Siliguri police.” In the wee hours of the day, Akramul had reached the airport, riding a motorcycle from Alipurduar, which is also in North Bengal.
Mofakkerul, who is in his 40s and lives in Kolkata with his family, originally hails from North Dinajpur and is a lawyer at the Calcutta High Court. He earlier participated in the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act and contested the Assembly Election in 2021 as AIMIM candidate at his home town: Itahar. Mofakkerul was seen standing atop a vehicle in several viral videos and photos leading the massive stir with a provocative speech to the demonstrators at Kaliachak in Malda on April 1.
He however went into hiding after he was booked in three cases and an arrest warrant was issued against him by the police following the heat of the Supreme Court and Election Commission over the hostage case. Interestingly, Mofakkerul, after his arrest, posted on his Facebook page, which has 2.9 million followers, “Bhalo Thakun Apnara (Take Care)”. He also uploaded a video there, announcing his arrest. “I have been arrested from Bagdogra Airport for participating in the protest against deletions of voters’ names,” the lawyer said in the video which could not be traced later on his social media account.
On the other hand, Akramul is a YouTuber who runs a digital news channel, Insaf Bangla, on the internet platform with 6.70 lakh subscribers. He has been accused of producing controversial content. Mofakkerul and Akramul were later taken to Malda where they were produced at a district court which remanded them in police custody for 14 days.
Mr Jayaraman informed that a total of 35 persons were arrested so far in 19 cases related to the agitation by road blockade and gherao and hostage of the judicial officers. Elated over the capture of the prime accused, chief minister Mamata Banerjee hailed the role of the state detective agency before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe. Addressing two assembly poll campaign rallies in North Dinajpur, the Trinamul Congress supremo once again accused Asaduddin Owaisi’s party for orchestration of the unrest at the behest of the BJP.
She is expected to campaign in Malda on Saturday. Meanwhile, a 24-member NIA team led by Inspector General Sonia Singh reached the district in the afternoon and launched their probe.
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