- By Nidhi Giri
- Sun, 02 Aug 2026 07:55 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Suspected terrorist Hamim Mandal had planned Jantar Mantar attack, wanted to target politicians.
- Associate Arpita Sarkar recruited, honey-trapped people and was linked to Pakistani networks.
- STF probing foreign handlers, funding, encrypted communication channels.
State Bureau, Kolkata: The interrogation of suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist Hamim Mandal has uncovered several startling revelations. Bengal Special Task Force (STF) Inspector General Gaurav Sharma stated that a plot was hatched to attack Delhi's Jantar Mantar during the recent student protests by wearing police uniforms. Agencies are investigating whether Hamim was present during the demonstrations.
CM Suvendu Adhikari Was On Hit List
Senior police officers and several politicians, including West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, were also on the target of terrorists. Hamim was tasked with monitoring the Chief Minister's activities and gathering information about his locations. This network was uncovered during the investigation into the kidnapping and ransom plot of the son of BJP MLA and minister Umesh Rai.
Hamim's Friend Arrested From Jharkhand
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested Hamim's girlfriend, Arpita Sarkar, from Jharkhand’s Sahibganj. The STF claims that Arpita is an active member of a suspected terrorist module.
Arpita was a 2022-2026 English Honors student at BSK College in Jharkhand. Her father runs a stationery shop. Her mother was an Anganwadi worker, who passed away about four years ago.
According to investigating agencies, Arpita came into contact with Hamim through internet media approximately four years ago. It is alleged that she assisted in various activities on his instructions, including attempts to honey trap people, collecting mobile phone numbers, collecting photographs of individuals and homes, and conducting recce. She was also responsible for recruiting new recruits through various internet media platforms. These allegations have not yet been officially confirmed and the matter is under investigation.
The duo was brought to Bardhaman on transit remand and presented before the court. Now, Hamim and Arpita will be interrogated face to face in custody.
Arpita also has direct links to Pakistani terrorist networks. The STF is also investigating which foreign handlers Hamim and Arpita were in contact with through various internet media platforms and how the suspected funding was routed through Bengal and Jharkhand.
The Bengal STF arrested Hamim from a gym in a residential complex in East Bardhaman last Thursday. As per STF, he was in contact with Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, notorious gangster Shahzad Bhatti, and Sajjad Bhatt, an accused in the Pulwama attack.
Several WhatsApp chats between Hamim and Arpita have provided crucial information about the network. They also indicate that the two were given different 'assignments'.
Instead of regular phone calls, the two communicated through a special encrypted mobile app. The investigating agency is also examining their digital network, possible connections to the dark web, and other contacts.