2026 West Bengal Terror Module Case
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| Date | July – August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Location |
|
| Motive | Espionage, inciting public unrest, communal violence, and targeted attacks |
| Target | West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, Jantar Mantar CJP protests, VVIPs |
| Perpetrator | Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) / Shahzad Bhatti gang (alleged) |
| Inquiries | West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) |
| Suspects | Hamim Mondal, Arpita Sarkar, Aditya Singh |
The 2026 West Bengal terror module case refers to the uncovering of a major espionage and terror network linked to the Pakistan-based militant organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). In August 2026, the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) arrested multiple individuals, including the prime suspect Hamim Mondal and his associate Arpita Sarkar.
The module was allegedly involved in tracking the movements of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, plotting a massive sabotage at a student protest in New Delhi, and utilizing honey-trapping to extract highly sensitive information from high-profile Indian officials.[1]
Arrests and Key Suspects
[edit]The West Bengal STF began tracking suspicious online activities and digital footprints, which eventually led to the crackdown on this cross-border terror network.
- Hamim Mondal: The prime suspect, an Indian citizen hailing from the Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal. Investigators revealed that Mondal did not cross any international borders but was subjected to severe digital radicalization. He acted as a local operative for foreign handlers, carrying out logistical and operational tasks on Indian soil.[2]
- Arpita Sarkar: A 22-year-old English graduate from BSK College and a resident of Sahibganj, Jharkhand. An active social media influencer, she met Mondal through Instagram and had a romantic relationship with him for four years. Sarkar's primary role was to "honey-trap" political leaders, bureaucrats, and police officials to extract confidential information and secure financial gains.[3]
- Aditya Singh: Arrested from the Bellilious Road area in Howrah, Singh was identified as another key associate assisting Mondal with local logistics following the interrogation of the primary suspects.[4]
Alleged Conspiracies and Operations
[edit]The investigation brought to light several alarming plots directed by handlers operating from across the border:
Infiltration of the Jantar Mantar CJP Protest
[edit]One of the most critical and immediate tasks assigned to Hamim Mondal was to sabotage the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The protests were organized by students demanding action against nationwide exam paper leaks, following the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in late July 2026.
Mondal was explicitly instructed by his handlers to purchase a standard Indian police uniform. The plan was to wear the uniform, infiltrate the dense crowd of thousands of protesting students, and initiate a sudden violent act. By posing as a police officer committing an unprovoked attack, the module aimed to:
- Trigger widespread confusion and panic among the students.
- Cause a deadly stampede in the highly congested protest site.
- Instigate severe physical clashes between the real police forces and the protesters.
- Garner immediate international and national media attention.
- Fuel social division and escalate communal tensions across the country.[5][6]
Surveillance on the Chief Minister
[edit]Mondal was also directed to gather precise intelligence on West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. His handlers demanded regular updates on the Chief Minister's convoy routes, upcoming public meeting schedules, and the specific locations he was set to visit. The primary objective was to identify security loopholes and vulnerabilities for a potential assassination attempt or targeted strike.[6]
Honey-Trapping and Kidnapping Plots
[edit]Arpita Sarkar utilized her social media presence to systematically honey-trap influential figures. The gathered intelligence was directly passed on to Mondal, who then forwarded it to his handlers. Furthermore, STF sources indicated that the module was in the advanced stages of plotting the kidnapping of the son of State Minister Umesh Rai for extortion and political leverage.[7]
Digital Radicalization and Handlers
[edit]The module represents a modern approach to terrorism, heavily relying on digital tools.
- Digital Radicalization: Mondal was groomed entirely over the internet. His handlers fed him extremist propaganda, convinced him that the state was acting against his community, and slowly escalated his involvement from minor intelligence gathering to operational militant tasks.[2]
- Foreign Command: The STF identified four primary handlers based in Pakistan, operating under the aliases Rana, Uzer, Abid Jatt333, and Hammad. These operatives are linked to the Jaish-e-Mohammed and the notorious Shahzad Bhatti gang, which specializes in narco-terror financing, cross-border intelligence, and terror recruitment.[8]
- Encrypted Networks: To bypass Indian intelligence agencies, the suspects avoided standard cellular networks and WhatsApp. Instead, they communicated via highly secure, end-to-end encrypted platforms like Element X, Session, and Discord.
- International SIMs: Authorities recovered physical evidence including international SIM cards registered in the United Kingdom and Mexico. These were utilized to mask IP addresses, divert communication nodes, and complicate digital tracking by law enforcement agencies.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives held in West Bengal, The Hindu.
- 1 2 ISI sought to build Bengal espionage network through influencer, says STF, The Indian Express.
- 1 2 Who is Arpita Sarkar? Social media influencer at centre of Bengal STF’s terror-module probe, The Times of India.
- ↑ Howrah youth arrested for links with Pak-backed terror module, The Telegraph India.
- ↑ Bengal terror suspect planned to wear police uniform to incite violence at Delhi protest, Hindustan Times.
- 1 2 STF probe reveals Jantar Mantar sabotage plot and Bengal CM on Pak operatives' target list, India Today.
- ↑ রাজ্যের মন্ত্রীর ছেলেকে অপহরণের ছক, হাওড়া থেকে ধৃত হামিমের সঙ্গী, Anandabazar Patrika.
- ↑ STF busts Pakistan-based terror network operating via social media, The Hindu.