In a critical breakthrough for national security, the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police, in coordination with regional law enforcement agencies, has dismantled a dangerous terror module operating within the state. The operation led to the arrest of two key operatives associated with the Pakistan-based, banned terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

The suspects—identified as Mohammad Hamim Mondal (also referred to in official proceedings as Hamid Mondal or Hamim Mandal) and his close female associate and girlfriend, Arpita Sarkar—are alleged to have been actively plotting targeted attacks against high-profile political figures, most notably Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

High-Stakes Operation and Initial Apprehensions

The security operation unfolded over a series of swift and coordinated raids across state borders. On Thursday night, acting on precise intelligence and local police inputs, a specialized six-member STF team raided a high-end rented apartment located on the second floor of the "Rohini" building within the Renasha Township housing complex in Bardhaman town, East Burdwan district. The primary suspect, Mohammad Hamim Mondal, a 23-year-old native and son of Moniuddin, was taken into custody on the spot.

While initial news agency reports from Press Trust of India (PTI) indicated that Mondal had been residing in the flat for two to three months to evade law enforcement agencies, local residents and neighbouring flat owners reported that he had been living in the rented accommodation for approximately one and a half years alongside his wife and three young children. To maintain cover and avoid raising suspicion among his neighbours, Mondal claimed to be an employee working in the private sector.

Following his arrest, Mondal was produced before the local court in Burdwan on Friday, where the magistrate remanded him to 14-day police custody. Investigators subsequently planned to transfer him to Kolkata for further interrogation by senior counter-terrorism officers to uncover the full scope of his network, including earlier residential locations across the state such as Kolkata's New Town area.

Interstate Crackdown and the Arrest of Arpita Sarkar

The momentum of the investigation intensified significantly on Friday night following digital forensics and tower location analysis derived from Mondal's seized mobile phone. The digital trail led STF officials across state lines to Sahibganj (Sahebgung) in neighbouring Jharkhand, where they tracked down and arrested Arpita Sarkar late Friday night.

Sarkar was immediately brought back to East Burdwan, Bengal, under heavy security ahead of her scheduled court appearance. According to official police statements, Sarkar played an indispensable role in Mondal’s operations. Investigators uncovered that the duo maintained constant and regular communication through encrypted messaging apps, specifically WhatsApp, where extensive chat histories were recovered.

Police revealed that Sarkar functioned as a pivotal component of a sophisticated "honey-trap" sub-network designed to lure targets. Under directives from handlers, Sarkar was allegedly tasked with establishing contact with influential political personalities in West Bengal, developing access, and collecting sensitive personal data. Authorities are actively probing whether she was assigned to execute high-profile abductions using these honey-trapping tactics, though officials clarified that it remains under verification whether any such abductions were successfully carried out.

Surveillance on Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and VIP Targets

The gravity of the terror plot became clear as forensic teams examined seized electronic devices, documents, and mobile phones. STF sources confirmed that Mondal had been meticulously monitoring Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s security apparatus, movements, and official event schedules since July 9. Preliminary evidence indicates that the groundwork began much earlier; during the previous year, the suspects gathered detailed intelligence on Adhikari when he served as the Leader of the Opposition prior to assuming office as Chief Minister.

The intelligence gathering was remarkably granular. Investigators noted with grave concern that prior to relocating to Burdwan, Mondal operated out of Kolkata’s New Town area—a location situated in close proximity to Chief Minister Adhikari's residence. During his time there, Mondal conducted repeated reconnaissance along primary convoy routes used by the Chief Minister. He managed to secure sensitive logistical intelligence, including specific vehicle registration numbers, driver details, convoy security protocols, and exact travel timings.

Addressing the media at the state secretariat, Nabanna, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed the severity of the threat, acknowledging that he along with other high-profile leaders—including State Minister Umesh Rai—were identified as potential targets. Adhikari declined to disclose further granular specifics, citing strict national security considerations.

Links to the Pulwama Mastermind, ISI, and International Networks

The investigation has exposed deep international links connecting the Bengal module directly to terror hubs in Pakistan and Kashmir. Digital forensic analysis revealed that both Mondal and Sarkar had been in direct contact with JeM network handlers for over a year through encrypted social media platforms, including Instagram, audio messaging applications, and private WhatsApp groups.

Crucially, investigators established that the duo was in contact with a JeM module operated by Pakistani terrorist handler Sajjad Bhat. Bhat is widely recognized by Indian security agencies as a key mastermind behind the lethal 2019 Pulwama terror attack, in which a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle—registered under Bhat's name—into a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) bus on February 14, 2019, martyrdom-ing 40 jawans.

According to counter-terrorism agencies, Sajjad Bhat’s extensive network operates under the umbrella of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The network utilizes cross-border narcotics and arms smuggling to generate illicit funds, which are then funneled directly into financing terror activities, recruiting operatives, and conducting reconnaissance across Indian states. Digital evidence confirms that Mondal was also in regular encrypted communication with senior Kashmir-based JeM handlers, receiving direct instructions from Pakistan to map out prominent figures associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Broader Multi-State Crackdown and Political Reactions

The implications of the Burdwan arrests have triggered a wider nationwide response. Anti-terror agencies across multiple jurisdictions—including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Noida—have conducted coordinated raids and detained several individuals, confirming the existence of an expansive inter-state network. STF officials noted that several accomplices connected to Mondal and Sarkar entered hiding immediately following the initial arrests, prompting an ongoing, multi-state manhunt. All seized digital hardware, documents, and potential forged identity papers have been dispatched for comprehensive forensic examination.

The developments have also sparked political discourse regarding regional security history. Commenting on the operation, BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar alleged that West Bengal had served for decades as a "safe corridor" for radical Islamist organizations during 34 years of Left Front governance and 15 years under the TMC administration. However, Sarkar asserted that extremist groups no longer consider the state a safe haven due to a "change in the state's ideology," claiming that radical outfits were now attempting desperate retaliatory attacks against political leaders who have taken a firm stand against extremist infrastructure.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari Addresses National Security Concerns

Speaking on the arrests and the broader implications of the module, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari emphasized that the situation far exceeds routine state policing. Emphasizing the gravity of the incident, CM Adhikari stated:

"This is not just about my security. It is a matter of national security. There are international links."

Adhikari declined to divulge preliminary operational details to avoid compromising ongoing probes, reinforcing:

"It's a sensitive issue. STF and senior police officers are handling the case. He may have international connections; the police are investigating."

Reiterating the necessity of placing state and national sovereignty above political differences, Adhikari reflected on high-level administrative coordination regarding border infrastructure and security:

"I am not passing any comment; it is a very sensitive issue. It is about international connections and about national safety."

He further recalled a critical regional security summit held at the state secretariat:

"The honourable Home Minister had come to Nabanna (the state secretariat) in 2022. There was a meeting with four CMs of the region (eastern)."

Concluding his statement, Chief Minister Adhikari articulated a clear principle regarding national defense and inter-governmental cooperation:

"The country’s interest first, politics later. I had gone to ask for land from the Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) for border fencing. I had bowed down as it is about the nation first. If the nation is secure, everything will be there, including politics."

Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal: A six-member Special Task Force (STF) team arrested a 23-year-old man, identified as Hamid Mondal, from the Renaissance area on suspicion of alleged militant links. The accused was produced before a court, which sent him to 14 days of police custody… pic.twitter.com/mdInZ1BA2n — IANS (@ians_india) July 31, 2026