Bengal STF arrests another suspect in espionage probe linked to Jaish operative
The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a man from Howrah in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged espionage network, a senior police officer said on Monday. The accused, identified as Aditya Singh alias Raj alias Raju, was apprehended from Belilious Road based on information gathered during the interrogation of two previously arrested suspects.
According to the STF, specific leads emerged following the questioning of alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed operative Hamim Mondal and his associate Arpita Sarkar. The officer said, "The arrest was made on the basis of specific leads that emerged during the investigation. We are now focused on identifying others linked to the alleged network," without elaborating further.
Investigators suspect that Aditya came into contact with Mondal through an online gaming platform and was subsequently drawn into the alleged conspiracy. He is suspected to have collected information related to Minister of State for Urban Development Umesh Rai and his son, and shared it with the accused, the STF official said.
The arrest marks the latest development in a probe that has drawn attention to the alleged activities of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistan-based militant group designated as a terrorist organisation by India and the United Nations. The STF, a specialised unit of the West Bengal Police, has been investigating the case for several weeks.
Mondal and Sarkar were arrested earlier in connection with the same case. Officials have not disclosed the exact nature of the information allegedly collected, nor have they provided details on how it was transmitted. The investigation is ongoing, and the authorities have indicated that further arrests are possible.
Legal experts emphasise that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Aditya Singh has been taken into custody and will be produced before a magistrate, where the prosecution is expected to seek his remand for further interrogation.
The case has also raised questions about the use of online platforms for potential recruitment or coordination by militant networks. Cyber security analysts have noted that such platforms can be exploited, though they caution against drawing conclusions without a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has not issued an official statement on the arrest, and the Ministry of State for Urban Development has not commented. The STF continues to urge the public to report any suspicious activity, while reaffirming its commitment to a fair and transparent investigation.
