Kolkata, April 2 (NationPress) Protests have reignited in Malda as of Thursday morning, particularly in the Mangalbari sector of the old Malda block. Demonstrators assert that numerous individuals have experienced removal of their names from the voter list, despite possessing legitimate documents.

After a brief reopening at night, National Highway No. 12 has been obstructed once more on Thursday. Protesters ignited tires and constructed bamboo barricades across the road.

Law enforcement from the Malda police station, along with CAPF personnel, are stationed at the blockade to monitor the developing circumstances.

Today's protests in the old Malda block echo the demands made during Wednesday's Kaliachak demonstration. Protesters claim they are rallying against the unjust removal of their names from the voter list.

The community in various Malda regions has been restless since Wednesday morning regarding the deletion of their names. The highway was blocked for an extended period, and Judicial Officers were also encircled. They were ultimately released late at night.

The large gathering in Kaliachak on Wednesday night has dissipated, yet residents have begun to return to the streets since morning, although a lingering tension remains.

Police checkpoints have been established in multiple locations where protests occurred overnight, including along National Highway No. 12 and the Malda-Mothabari State Highway.

A heightened police presence has been evident since morning. Authorities have also instructed the Intelligence branch to remain alert.

It is important to highlight that Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to conduct an election rally in Baishnabnagar, Malda district, today, coinciding with the renewed protests in the old Malda block.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested a report from the Director General of the West Bengal Police concerning the incident where seven Judicial Officers, including three women, were gheraoed and held hostage in Kaliachak by voters whose names had been deleted during the ongoing judicial review of voters marked under the “logical discrepancy” category.

These seven officials were taken hostage on Wednesday but were eventually freed around 1 A.M. Thursday after a large police presence, led by senior district officials, intervened to disperse the crowd and escort the Judicial Officers to safety after nearly nine hours of being held.

Reports indicated that while the officials were being relocated to safety post-rescue, attempts were made to attack their convoy.

During the hostage situation involving the judicial officers, another group of demonstrators obstructed the National Highways adjacent to Block-I of Kaliachak in the Sujapur Assembly constituency. Ultimately, the administration managed to convince the protesters to lift the blockade by assuring them of efforts to reinstate the deleted names onto the voters' list promptly.