In a significant counter-espionage operation, the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) has apprehended an individual suspected of working for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).The accused, identified as Rana Rauf, is a resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Intelligence reports suggest that Rauf infiltrated India by crossing the porous Nepal border. Following his entry, he settled in the Topsia neighborhood of Kolkata, where he assumed the alias “Wahaf” to evade detection.

Investigators revealed that Rauf systematically built a false life in India by procuring forged identification documents, including a fraudulent , to validate his presence and secure a permanent local address. During the arrest, the STF recovered these fabricated records, which are now being analyzed as part of the ongoing probe into his potential espionage activities and local support network.

Recent Strategic Successes: West Bengal STF (May–August 2026)

Over the last three months, the West Bengal STF has intensified its crackdown on transnational criminal syndicates and terror-linked modules:

Dismantling a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Cell (July 2026):

July 31: Security forces arrested Mohammad Hamim Mondal in Purba Bardhaman. Interrogations confirmed he was in direct communication with Pakistan-based handlers, receiving instructions to monitor sensitive security installations and high-profile targets.

July 31: A coordinated raid in Sahibganj, Jharkhand, led to the arrest of Arpita Sarkar, a key collaborator accused of gathering intelligence on political movement and regional security vulnerabilities.

August 3: The network’s reach was further curtailed with the arrest of Aditya Singh in Howrah. He was reportedly recruited through online gaming forums to facilitate local reconnaissance for the module.

Border Security & Fugitive Apprehension:

hroughout the recent quarter, the STF has collaborated with border agencies to intercept individuals attempting to bypass legal checkpoints. In March and subsequent operations near the Bongaon border, officials successfully captured multiple foreign nationals attempting to flee the country after engaging in illicit activities abroad.

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