Protests erupt in Malda over alleged voter roll deletions, highways blocked and police vehicle vandalised, driver injured, 10 cases filed as security is tightened
The driver of a police vehicle got injured in fresh violence over SIR row.
Tensions flared across parts of West Bengal’s Malda on Thursday, with protesters blocking highways, vandalising a police vehicle and clashing with security forces over alleged discrepancies in voter rolls, sources told News18.
In the Jadupur Bypass area of English Bazar, a police vehicle was attacked after a group of protesters attempted to block National Highway 12. When police intervened to clear the blockade, the mob allegedly vandalised the vehicle, leaving the driver injured with a head wound, sources said.
Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area.
Also Read: Mamata Banerjee Blames EC For Malda Gherao After SC Rap, Says ‘Powers Taken Away’
Protests Spread, Roads Blocked
Protests intensified in multiple locations, including the Manikchak Stand area, where residents have been blocking roads since Thursday morning.
Visuals from the ground showed burning tyres and road blockades, with demonstrators holding the national flag and staging sit-ins on key routes.
The agitation disrupted traffic movement on NH-12, a crucial corridor connecting North and South Bengal.
‘Names Removed From Rolls’: Protesters
Protesters alleged that several legitimate voters were removed from electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, triggering anger across villages.
They warned that demonstrations would continue unless authorities assured the restoration of deleted names.
Also Read: ‘Bengal Most Polarised State’: SC Says Malda Judicial Officers’ Gherao Was Preplanned
SC Pull-Up, Multiple Cases Filed
The unrest follows Wednesday’s incident in Kaliachak, where seven judicial officers engaged in voter verification were gheraoed for several hours at a BDO office.
The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed strong displeasure over the incident, stating that state authorities had failed in their duties and calling it a deliberate attempt to demoralise judicial officers.
Also Read: ‘There Was No Collector Till 11pm’: SC Slams Bengal Administration Over Gherao Of Judicial Officers
Police have so far registered 10 cases in connection with the Malda violence, including several suo motu FIRs.
Security has since been tightened, with both state police and central forces deployed across sensitive areas.
April 02, 2026, 14:29 IST
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