A suspected operative of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has been implicated in conducting surveillance on the residence of Suvendu Adhikari, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, in Kolkata. This information was disclosed by a police officer during an interrogation session with the arrested individual, Hamim Mondal, who was apprehended by the Special Task Force (STF) in Purba Bardhaman last week. His alleged associates, Arpita Sarkar and Aditya Sinha, are also being investigated in connection to this matter.
Mondal was reportedly assigned the task of monitoring Adhikari’s movements, including attending public events and pinpointing vulnerabilities regarding his security arrangements. As part of this operation, he is believed to have visited multiple functions where the Chief Minister was present and conducted a study of his official residence located at Chinar Park.
<h4“Initially, Mondal denied any visits to the area. However, technical evidence, particularly the analysis of mobile tower locations, confirmed his presence unequivocally. When presented with such evidence, he admitted to the reconnaissance,” the STF officer informed PTI.
Investigation into Potential Security Gaps
Authorities are currently investigating whether Mondal and his associates conducted similar surveillance on the state secretariat, Nabanna, to identify any lapses in the Chief Minister’s security protocols. They are scrutinising various forms of technical evidence, including CCTV footage, to track their movements around the state secretariat.
<h4“Every lead is being thoroughly examined to ensure no possibility is overlooked at this stage,” stated the senior officer. Investigators are also looking into the potential of Mondal renting accommodation near Adhikari’s residence to facilitate ongoing surveillance. However, there has been no confirmation regarding whether he or his associates actually secured any premises.”
The STF has alleged that Mondal maintained connections with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and a network led by a Pakistan-based gangster, Shahzad Bhatti. “Initial findings indicate suspected cross-border affiliations involving the accused. We are in the process of verifying digital evidence as well as scrutinising financial transactions and communication records to outline the full scope of the conspiracy,” the officer added.
Suspicion of Wider Conspiracy and Increased Security Measures
In addition to monitoring Adhikari, the STF has alleged that Sarkar played the role of a “honeytrap” operative tasked with building relationships with influential political figures and senior bureaucrats to acquire confidential information. Investigators suspect that this module intended to execute a significant act of sabotage aimed at inciting political instability within the state, with Adhikari potentially being a primary target.
In response to these alarming disclosures, authorities have heightened security protocols surrounding the Chief Minister, as confirmed by a high-ranking bureaucrat from Nabanna. The STF is also probing if other networks associated with Bhatti or similar Pakistan-backed operatives are operational in West Bengal, as well as determining if local facilitators or sleeper cells provided logistical support for the alleged conspiracy.
<h4“We are pursuing inquiries into the roles of every individual linked to this module, and investigating the possibility of any local supporters being part of the operation,” the STF officer remarked.