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Bengal Police arrest Jaish-e-Mohammed operative tracking CM Suvendu Adhikari’s routes
Following the interrogation of previously detained operatives, investigators revealed that the module had been monitoring Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s transit routes and gathering intelligence on minister Umesh Rai.
The arrest followed probe into a suspected espionage network accused of tracking Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's transit routes (File photo).
The West BengalSpecial Task Force arrested another alleged operative linked to a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) espionage network from Howrah on Monday. The arrest followed the police review of security measures for Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari following revelations that the terror module had been tracking his movements.
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The accused, identified as Aditya Singh alias Raj alias Raju, was apprehended from Belilious Road in Howrah following specific leads generated during the interrogation of alleged JeM operative Hamim Mondal and his associate, Arpita Sarkar.
Investigators suspect that Mondal initially connected with Aditya via an online gaming platform before allegedly radicalising and drawing him into the espionage ring. According to senior STF officials, Aditya is suspected of gathering sensitive information on Minister of State for Urban Development Umesh Rai and his son, which was subsequently passed on to primary handlers.
“The arrest was made based on specific leads that emerged during the investigation. We are now focused on identifying others linked to the alleged network,” a senior STF officer stated, adding that three people have been taken into custody in connection with the case so far.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Arjun Singh confirmed Saturday that the transport department was prepared to assign a dedicated bulletproof vehicle, deeming it essential for the Chief Minister’s protection.
The widespread investigation was triggered following the arrest of primary suspect Hamim Mondal from East Burdwan. The police suspect Mondal maintained direct operational ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and was tasked with monitoring high-profile political targets and transit routes across the state.
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Security concerns around state leadership had already escalated earlier this year on May 6, when the Chief Minister’s personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on the streets of Madhyamgram.
Two days after that attack, Adhikari took the oath of office as Chief Minister. At the time, top state police officials had advised him to adopt a bulletproof vehicle, which was already added to his official convoy.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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