Kolkata, April 3 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, assigned by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to probe the reported harassment of seven judicial adjudication officers in the minority-dominated district of Malda, West Bengal, is set to arrive in Kaliachak later today. Their first step will be to engage with the affected officers.

As of the time this report was published, the NIA had not disclosed details regarding the members of the investigation team or their subsequent actions. However, insiders indicate that in addition to interviewing the impacted judicial officers about their experiences on Wednesday, the NIA team is likely to question the 18 individuals already apprehended by the West Bengal Police in connection with this incident.

Among those arrested is Maulana Shahjahan Ali, the candidate from the All India Secular Front (AISF) representing the Mothabari Assembly constituency in Malda.

On Thursday afternoon, a division bench of the Supreme Court instructed the ECI to select either the NIA or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for this inquiry. Subsequently, the ECI communicated to the NIA's director general, instructing the initiation of the investigation by Friday morning.

The NIA is expected to present its initial findings to the same Supreme Court division bench on April 6.

In the meantime, amidst the judicial officers' ordeal at Kaliachak on Wednesday night, the ECI has directed the West Bengal Police to enforce strict measures against unauthorized gatherings across the state, particularly near the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office in central Kolkata, which has been the focal point of protests led primarily by factions associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress since the previous Tuesday.

“No processions, meetings, or gatherings are permitted without prior approval. Violators of this directive may face arrest, as mandated by the Commission,” disclosed a source from the CEO’s office.

On Wednesday, a group of voters, whose names were removed during the judicial review process due to “logical discrepancies,” held seven judicial officers, including three women, hostage at a block office in Kaliachak.

At approximately 1 a.m. on Thursday, a significant police presence, led by senior district officials, arrived to disperse the crowd, rescue the judicial officers, and transport them to safety after being gheraoed for nearly nine hours.

Reports also indicate that an attempt was made to attack the convoy while the officers were being relocated to safety.