Malda, April 3 -- A team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday arrived at the Block Development Officer's (BDO) office in Malda in connection with the recent incident, where thousands of people on April 1 blocked the two gates of the Kaliachak-II BDO, holding staff including seven judicial officers "hostage" for hours before they were rescued after midnight.

Earlier in the day, the anti-terror agency initiated the preliminary enquiry late on Thursday after the Election Commission of India (ECI) formally referred the matter, sending a letter to its Director General.

The ECI's direction to the NIA came following the Supreme Court's order issued on Thursday, asking the poll panel that "a central agency, either CBI or NIA" ...