SC directs NIA to investigate Judges' gherao during WB SIR

The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on the West Bengal administration after seven judicial officers working on voter list revisions in Mothabari, Kaliachak, were surrounded and harassed. Chief Justice Surya Kant warned that if the state fails to control such situations, the Court itself will decide the next steps. The apex court has ordered the state police to hand over all case records related to the incident to the National Investigation Agency. The bench questioned why repeated calls for help from the judges to the administration went unanswered. The Chief Secretary apologized, but the Chief Justice stressed that officials must be more alert to their responsibilities. 
Additional Solicitor General A.V. Raju informed the Court that twelve FIRs have been filed, three for the confinement of judges and nine for the blockade of the area. The NIA will investigate all of them. Twenty-four arrests have been made so far, including five prime accused, while 309 others remain on the suspect list. CCTV footage is being analyzed to piece together the events. 
The Supreme Court has directed that the two arrested masterminds be immediately handed over to NIA custody. A preliminary report must be submitted to the Court by April 13, followed by a final report to the NIA Court in Kolkata. "There are serious allegations against the members of the State/local police. In exercise of powers under Article 142, we direct that the investigation of these FIR be taken over by NIA, irrespective of the offences under which these FIRs have been registered," the bench observed in the order.