Girlfriend of Jaish terrorist, linked to Bengal CM attack plot, arrested
The West Bengal Police's Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a woman from Jharkhand's Sahibganj in connection with its investigation into suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Hamim
The West Bengal Police's Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a woman from Jharkhand's Sahibganj in connection with its investigation into suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Hamim Mandal, who was recently arrested over an alleged conspiracy to target the Chief Minister of Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari. The arrested woman, identified as Arpita Sarkar, was in regular contact with Mandal and is suspected to have been part of a network that used honeytrap tactics to target influential individuals, officials told India Today.
Read Full Story According to the STF, Arpita's arrest was made on the basis of technical evidence and inputs gathered during the interrogation of Mandal, who was arrested earlier from West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district. Investigators believe Sarkar may have played a key role in the network by establishing contact with influential people and luring them into compromising situations as part of a larger organised operation. Following her arrest, the STF has begun questioning Sarkar and seized her mobile phone and other digital devices for forensic examination.
Investigators are also analysing her communication records and financial transactions to identify possible links with other members of the suspected network. Officials said the probe is now focused on determining how far the network extended and whether its operatives were active in multiple states. They have not ruled out further arrests as the investigation progresses. The latest arrest comes days after the West Bengal STF apprehended Hamim Mandal, a Jaish-e-Mohammed operative, from Purba Bardhaman. Investigators claimed that Mandal was planning an attack on Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Following Mandal's arrest, the STF launched an extensive investigation into his associates and communication network. During questioning, investigators reportedly uncovered leads pointing to Arpita Sarkar, prompting the operation in Sahibganj. Authorities are now probing whether the honeytrap operation was used to facilitate terrorist activities, gather sensitive information or expand the network's reach. Further investigation is underway. Ends
The BriefWire