NIA Pursues Custody of 12 Individuals Linked to Mothabari Violence
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Key Takeaways
Kolkata, April 16 (NationPress) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has requested custody of 12 out of the 49 individuals detained in connection with the harassment of judges involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) proceedings in Mothabari, located in the Malda district.
The other 37 individuals have been placed under judicial custody. An attorney for the detained Mofakkerul Islam has submitted a bail request, with the state police labeling him the ‘mastermind’ behind the incident.
The hearing regarding the Mothabari case was conducted at the Kolkata City Sessions Court on Thursday, where a total of 52 individuals have been arrested in the incident thus far. Of these, 49 were formally charged on Thursday.
Mofakkerul’s legal counsel contended that his client is being unfairly portrayed as a ‘scapegoat’ and suggested that there is a larger conspiracy at play. However, the NIA emphasized that the investigation remains in its early stages and is not prepared to release extensive details to the public for the sake of maintaining the integrity of the investigation.
According to Mofakkerul’s attorney, the Supreme Court has mandated an NIA probe to ensure transparency. He asserted that Mofakkerul attempted to disperse the crowd by cooperating with authorities, insisting that there is no chance of his involvement in the incident.
His lawyer further noted that Mofakkerul has gained popularity on social media, with individuals recognizing him and asking him to help disperse the gathering. The police also sought his assistance, and he expressed optimism that the judge would approve the bail request.
On April 3, tensions escalated in Mothabari, Malda, regarding the SIR, as some individuals excluded from the adjudication list reportedly surrounded the judges. The judges were held until late at night.
The Supreme Court took notice of the case suo motu, leading to an order for the Election Commission to transfer the investigation to the NIA.
Following the arrest of Mofakkerul by the state police's intelligence unit, the NIA has also apprehended several other suspects.
During the court proceedings, the NIA’s attorney asserted that the accused are either directly or indirectly connected to the incident. He reiterated that the investigation remains at a preliminary stage, and thus, full disclosure of information to the public is not feasible at this time.