The West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a woman from Jharkhand as part of its investigation into an alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)-linked module, days after the arrest of suspected operative Mohammad Hamim Mondal from West Bengal’s Bardhaman district.
The accused, identified as Arpita Sarkar, was arrested from the Barharwa area of Sahibganj district on Friday. According to STF officials, Sarkar was allegedly in regular contact with Mondal through WhatsApp, with investigators recovering chats between the two during the ongoing probe.
Mondal was arrested on Thursday from his rented apartment in a housing complex in Bardhaman town. Investigators suspect he was part of an alleged ISI-backed network tasked with collecting intelligence on VIPs, including BJP leaders, recruiting operatives and laying the groundwork for possible terror activities in West Bengal.
‘Honey-Trap’ Angle Under Investigation
According to officials, Sarkar allegedly played a crucial role in helping Mondal establish contacts with influential political figures in the state and gather personal information about them.
The STF claims she was used as part of a suspected “honey-trap” network to lure targets and facilitate the collection of sensitive information. Investigators are now examining digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats, to determine the exact nature and extent of her involvement.
Officials said Sarkar has been brought to Purba Bardhaman and is scheduled to be produced before a local court. Investigators are also probing whether the information allegedly gathered through her was intended to be used in planning potential attacks.
Police said Mondal’s ancestral home is in Dirghanagar village under the Monteswar police station limits in Purba Bardhaman. His father has reportedly been living in Howrah’s Pilkhana area since 1998 for work.
According to investigators, Mondal and his family had recently shifted to the rented flat in Bardhaman from where he was arrested.
The STF believes the arrests could lead to more disclosures about the suspected terror module’s network and operations. Officials said further investigation is underway to identify other possible associates and determine whether the alleged network had wider links across states.
With inputs from PTI