Protesters Trap Voter List Officials for Eight Hours in Malda Amid Rising Tensions Over Deleted Names

Officials were engaged in checking documents as part of the revision process when unrest erupted. Protesters, angered over flagged or removed names from the electoral rolls, surrounded the building from 4 p.m. The agitation intensified rapidly, with demonstrators blocking National Highway 12 and creating widespread chaos in the area.

The situation remained volatile for several hours as officials remained confined inside the premises. Police intervention came only around midnight, when authorities managed to rescue the trapped officials and restore partial order. The scale of discontent was significant, with over 18,000 names deleted in Malda alone, fuelling outrage among affected residents.

The tensions in Malda mirror similar protests in nearby areas, indicating a broader pattern of unrest linked to the voter list revision process. The developments have also drawn sharp political reactions, with leaders from both BJP and TMC weighing in on the controversy.

The incident underscores the growing sensitivity surrounding electoral roll revisions and raises serious concerns about administrative challenges and public trust in the run-up to the 2026 assembly polls.