Suspected Terrorist Linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed Arrested in West Bengal

Arrest of Suspected Terrorist in East Bardhaman

A suspected member of the Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has been apprehended in the East Bardhaman district of West Bengal. Police sources confirmed this development on Friday. Investigators are currently exploring potential connections between the arrested individual and an ISI-backed module that may have been gathering intelligence on leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Details of the Arrest

The Special Task Force (STF) of the state police arrested Hamid Mandal late Thursday night from a rented flat in a residential complex in Bardhaman city. Mandal is a resident of Kusumgram in East Bardhaman. Authorities are examining electronic devices, including a mobile phone, that were seized during the arrest.

Investigating Connections and Activities

Investigators are trying to determine whom Mandal was in contact with, his activities, and any potential plots he may have been involved in. There are suspicions that he connected with a terrorist module run by gangster Shahzad Bhatti and his associate Ajmal Gujjar via social media about a year ago. Security agencies believe that Bhatti's network has been involved in smuggling drugs and weapons across the border.

Funding for Terror Activities

Sources indicate that profits from this network were allegedly used for terrorist activities in India, supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). It has been reported that Mandal left his job at a textile unit in the Pilkhana area of Howrah before the state assembly elections and moved to Bardhaman, where he rented a flat in an upscale residential area.

Surveillance on Political Figures

The STF is also investigating whether Mandal previously resided in a rented flat in New Town, on the outskirts of Kolkata. Investigators suspect he may have done so to monitor the activities of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Evidence collected during the investigation suggests that Mandal gathered information related to Adhikari.

National Security Concerns

The investigation team is urgently trying to ascertain if there was any plot to target Adhikari. The Chief Minister described the situation as 'extremely sensitive,' emphasizing its implications for national security. He stated that the STF is analyzing data retrieved from the suspect's electronic devices.

Broader Implications

The Chief Minister remarked, 'This is not just a matter of my security; it pertains to national security.' Investigators are also looking into whether Mandal was part of a larger network collecting information on BJP and RSS officials in West Bengal. Claims have emerged that data linked to mobile tower locations and digital evidence indicate he was in constant contact with his handlers.

Links to Past Terrorist Activities

According to police, there are suspicions regarding Mandal's connections to the banned terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed. He is believed to be a close associate of Sajjad Bhatti, who is considered one of the main conspirators behind the 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack. Notably, on February 14, 2019, a suicide bomber from Jaish-e-Mohammed targeted a bus carrying Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, resulting in the deaths of 40 soldiers.

Legal Proceedings and Political Reactions

Mandal was presented in a Bardhaman court on Friday, where the STF sought custody to further investigate the alleged terrorist network and its connections and activities within the state. Neighbors reported that Mandal had been living in the rented flat with his family for approximately a year and a half. BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar accused the previous Left Front and Trinamool Congress governments of creating a 'safe corridor' for radical Islamic organizations in West Bengal. He claimed that due to a shift in the state's ideology, these terrorist groups no longer view West Bengal as a secure base and are now targeting leaders who have taken a strong stance against extremist activities.