Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:44pm on 01 Aug 2026,Saturday India
West Bengal Police's Special Task Force (STF) has uncovered an alleged Pakistan-linked conspiracy involving suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Hamim Mondal and associate Arpita Sarkar. Investigators claim the plot included targeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, honey-trapping and kidnapping the son of a senior Howrah politician, and sabotaging the recent Jantar Mantar student protest by infiltrating it in a police uniform. STF said Mondal allegedly communicated with Pakistan-based handlers through Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, Session and Element X after initial contact online. Police are also probing suspected radicalisation, recruitment efforts and possible funding links from Pakistan. Arpita Sarkar's role remains under investigation, while the probe continues into the wider alleged network. (PC: PTI)
