The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released a shocking video of the Malda hostage incident, showing judicial officers trapped during a tense standoff with villagers. In the footage, a woman officer is heard pleading, “If something happens to me, High Court please take care of my child.”

BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari shared the video on X, calling the situation “chilling, disturbing, and unacceptable”. He said the footage reflects a climate of fear and intimidation under the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

"Under TMC even judicial officers are not safe, they fear their life! The fight in Bengal is not just political; it’s to save Bengal from TMC's Fear Intimidation & Dictatorship," Bhandari added.

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that the Malda violence was a pre-planned experiment sponsored by TMC. Speaking to ANI, he said, "It was a pre-planned experiment sponsored by the TMC because the main arrested accused Mofakkerul Islam has been clicked with all the top-notch leaders of TMC, including Mamata Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee."

Poonawalla further claimed, “We have also seen attacks taking place on ED, CBI, and NIA.”

What happened in Malda?

The standoff in Malda district took place on April 1, triggered by mass deletions from the electoral rolls under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Villagers staged road blockades across national and state highways and key rural routes in at least five Assembly constituencies, causing major disruption. Seven judicial officers, including three women, were held hostage during the standoff.

ADG North Bengal K. Jayaraman said, "We detained Mofakkarul Islam from Bagdogra airport, for instigating people. He was going to his residence in Ithar. 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 to judicial officers. So far, 35 people have been arrested."

The BJP has accused the TMC of promoting political violence and intimidating judicial officers, with Poonawalla saying, "Politicisation of institutions and institutionalisation of political violence is taking place by the Mamata Banerjee and TMC, which means the Mafia culture, and that has been seen in Malda."

With ANI inputs