Jaish Member and Female Associate Arrested For Trying To 'Honey-Trap' Politicians

The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police has arrested an alleged female accomplice of suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative Mohammad Hamim Mondal in connection with an alleged ISI-backed plot to "honey-trap" political leaders and gather sensitive intelligence across the state.

The arrested woman, identified as Arpita Sarkar, was apprehended from Sahebgunj in Jharkhand on Friday (July 31) and subsequently brought to Bardhaman, West Bengal. Her arrest follows the detention of Mondal, who was taken into custody from a rented apartment in Bardhaman town on Thursday (July 30).

According to police officials, Sarkar is a close associate and girlfriend of Mondal. Investigators recovered WhatsApp chat logs between the two, confirming regular communication. Police stated that Mondal allegedly used Sarkar to establish contact with influential political figures in West Bengal, including BJP leaders, to gather their sensitive personal details.

Investigators suspect Mondal operated as part of an ISI-backed module tasked with recruiting operatives, gathering intelligence on VIPs, and laying the groundwork for potential terror activities in the state.

"Sarkar allegedly played a key role in a 'honey-trap' network used to lure targets as part of the suspected module's activities. Our investigation suggests that the accused attempted to build a network to access sensitive personal information of certain political personalities," an STF official said, adding that authorities are probing whether the gathered information was intended for planning attacks.

Preliminary findings also indicate that Mondal had been actively tracking the movements and convoy routes of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

Addressing Mondal's arrest on Friday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari remarked, "It's a sensitive issue. STF and senior police officers are handling the case. He may have international connections; the police are investigating."

Police confirmed that digital evidence is being verified and further interrogations are underway to determine the full scope of the network's operations.