Malda Protests 2026: NIA Investigation, Coordination & Administrative Lapses

On April 1, Malda district in West Bengal experienced large-scale protests over voter roll revisions, which escalated into a law-and-order crisis. Judicial officers were confined for hours, highways were blocked, and attacks on evacuation convoys occurred. The NIA’s preliminary probe suggests pre-planning, citing mosque announcements, e-rickshaw alerts, and crowd coordination. This explainer examines the security lapses, administrative delays, and potential wider conspiracy behind the unrest.