The West Bengal Police's Special Task Force (STF) on Saturday claimed that BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Suvendu Adhikari was among the alleged targets of a suspected Pakistan-backed terror and espionage network, even as investigators probed links between the accused and attempts to create disturbances during the recent students' protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
The revelations came a day after the STF arrested suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative Mohammad Hamim Mondal from Purba Bardhaman district and later arrested Arpita Sarkar from neighbouring Jharkhand in connection with the case.
Addressing a press conference, STF Inspector General Gaurav Sharma said the investigation had uncovered evidence suggesting that Adhikari figured on the target list of Pakistan-based terror groups.
"Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was on the target list of Pakistan-based terror groups. The same network tried to create disturbances during the Jantar Mantar students' protest. We have also identified police personnel, political leaders and other important individuals who were allegedly being targeted," Sharma said.
The STF said both accused have been remanded to 14 days of police custody as investigators continue to probe their alleged links with Pakistan-based handlers and the wider network.
According to investigators, Mondal was allegedly recruited through social media about a year ago by individuals claiming links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and other Pakistan-based networks. Police suspect he was radicalised through encrypted online conversations and tasked with recruiting operatives, gathering intelligence on politicians, bureaucrats and other protected persons, studying their security arrangements and passing the information to handlers across the border.
Electronic devices, including an iPhone and other mobile phones seized during the operation, are being forensically examined to reconstruct communications and identify other members of the suspected module. Investigators are also examining whether Mondal was instructed to arrange weapons and identify vulnerabilities for future attacks.
The probe took another turn with the arrest of Sarkar, who investigators alleged was in regular contact with Mondal through WhatsApp. Officials claimed she was allegedly used to establish contacts with influential political figures and gather sensitive personal information as part of what they described as a suspected "honey-trap" network.
Investigators are also examining whether the alleged module had links to threats reportedly received by BJP leader and Minister of State Umesh Rai and whether surveillance activities had advanced beyond intelligence gathering to preparations for possible terror strikes.
The STF said forensic analysis of the seized digital devices and verification of foreign phone numbers would be crucial in determining the full extent of the suspected cross-border espionage network. Officials maintained that several aspects of the investigation remain under verification.
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