JeM operative held in Bengal planned to target CM Suvendu, infiltrate Jantar Mantar protest, details
The investigation further found that Mondal was radicalised online before establishing contact with Pakistan-based operatives tied to the Shahzad Bhatti group
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On Sunday, August 3, the security agencies revealed that a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative arrested in West Bengal had allegedly plotted to target a top state political figure and also planned to infiltrate the recently concluded students' protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar disguised as a police officer. The accused, Mohammed Hamim Mondal, was apprehended in Purba Bardhaman district on Friday, July 31st, and taken to Kolkata that night for questioning, according to IG (Special Task Force) Gaurav Sharma, as reported by PTI.
The investigation further found that Mondal was radicalised online before establishing contact with Pakistan-based operatives tied to the Shahzad Bhatti group, Sharma added. Authorities said the accused communicated with multiple Pakistan-based handlers via encrypted platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Element X, and Session, after first making contact through Instagram. "During the investigation of his mobile phone and social media chat history, we have found some very serious information. He was in touch with several Pakistan-based handlers through encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram," Sharma said.
Investigators say the handlers used the aliases 'Rana', 'Uzair', 'Abid Jatt 333', and 'Hamad', all allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti gang, a network the STF says is involved in radicalisation, narco-terrorism, and recruiting youth for extremist activities. The investigation into the module reportedly began after officials received intelligence about the plan to abduct the minister's son and extort his family, another STF officer said.
Sharma said the probe had uncovered Mondal's connections to Pakistan-based handlers, on whose instructions he was allegedly operating. He was reportedly tasked with tracking the leader's movements and identifying locations where security might be lax, in order to assess vulnerabilities. According to the STF, Mondal had also planned to procure a police uniform to infiltrate the Jantar Mantar protest and carry out acts of sabotage. Officials said preliminary findings indicate the terror module had several police officers and political figures under surveillance, beyond the primary target.
A honey-trap angle surfaced after the STF also arrested Arpita Sarkar, described as Mondal's associate and partner. Authorities allege the pair had conspired to lure the son of a West Bengal minister of state into a honey-trap, with the intention of abducting him and extorting his family for money.
A senior STF official said the plan was allegedly directed by Pakistan-based handlers connected to the Shahzad Bhatti network. "Our investigation has revealed a specific plan to lure the minister's son into a honey-trap, followed by kidnapping and blackmail. The conspiracy was directed by Pakistan-based handlers. We are probing the precise role of each accused and whether others were involved," the officer said.
BIG Bengal STF Crackdown🚨
— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) August 1, 2026
Yesterday, the Bengal STF arrested an alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative, Hamim Mondal.
A woman, Arpita Sarkar, was also arrested from Jharkhand.
According to investigators, Arpita allegedly used honeytraps to gather information related to West…
Investigators stated Sarkar and Mondal were building personal relationships with influential individuals to extract sensitive information at the behest of their overseas handlers. STF personnel said they recovered international SIM cards registered in the UK and Mexico from the accused, which are suspected to have facilitated encrypted communication with foreign handlers and helped reinforce sleeper cells across the country.
The investigation further found that Mondal was radicalised online before establishing contact with Pakistan-based operatives tied to the Shahzad Bhatti group, Sharma added. Authorities said the accused communicated with multiple Pakistan-based handlers via encrypted platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram, Element X, and Session, after first making contact through Instagram. "During the investigation of his mobile phone and social media chat history, we have found some very serious information. He was in touch with several Pakistan-based handlers through encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram," Sharma said.
Investigators say the handlers used the aliases 'Rana', 'Uzair', 'Abid Jatt 333', and 'Hamad', all allegedly linked to the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti gang, a network the STF says is involved in radicalisation, narco-terrorism, and recruiting youth for extremist activities. The investigation into the module reportedly began after officials received intelligence about the plan to abduct the minister's son and extort his family, another STF officer said.