West Bengal Police Arrests Suspect Linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed Terror Network

Arrest of Suspected Associate in Terror Network

On August 3, Kolkata's Special Task Force (STF) apprehended another associate of the suspected terrorist Hamim Mandal from Howrah, as part of an investigation into an alleged espionage network. A senior official confirmed the arrest.

The suspect has been identified as Aditya Singh, also known as Raj or Raju. He was captured on Belilius Road in Howrah based on information obtained during interrogations of Hamim Mandal and his alleged accomplice, Arpita Sarkar.

Without disclosing further details, the STF official stated, “This arrest was made based on precise leads uncovered during the investigation. Our focus is now on identifying other individuals connected to this alleged network. So far, we have arrested three people in this case.” Investigators suspect that Aditya came into contact with Mandal through an online gaming platform and subsequently became involved in the alleged conspiracy.

According to the STF, Mandal reportedly exploited the situation to influence Aditya and integrate him into his network. The official mentioned, “Mandal assigned him the task of closely monitoring Urban Development Minister Umesh Rai and his son. He is suspected of gathering information related to both and sharing it with the accused.”

Regarding the arrested suspect's role, the official indicated that Aditya is believed to have taken photographs of Rai's activities and sent them to Mandal. They are investigating whether there was a plot to target the minister.

The official added, “The investigation is at a crucial juncture. We are working to uncover each individual's role and identify the entire communication chain. The information gathered during the questioning will aid us in understanding the network and its activities in detail.”

Furthermore, the STF is also trying to determine if the suspects were planning to execute a terrorist attack before the Independence Day celebrations.