The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police has apprehended a woman from Jharkhand for her alleged involvement in facilitating a ‘honey trap’ network linked to a suspected operative of Jaish-e-Mohammed, which was reportedly aimed at gathering sensitive personal information about political leaders in the state.
The woman, identified as Arpita Sarkar, was arrested from Sahibganj district on Friday as part of the investigation into the activities of the suspected Jaish operative, Mohammad Hamim Mondal. Reports indicate that she maintained regular WhatsApp communication with Mondal, and messages exchanged between them have been recovered during the investigation.
Details of the Honey Trap Network
According to officials from the STF, Sarkar allegedly played a crucial role in a network aimed at luring political figures to extract confidential personal information. An STF official stated,
“Sarkar allegedly played a key role in a ‘honey-trap’ network used to lure targets as part of the suspected module’s activities. Our investigation suggests that the accused attempted to build a network to access sensitive personal information of certain political personalities.”
Authorities claim that Mondal utilized Sarkar to connect with influential political figures and gather personal information about them. Investigators are currently assessing whether this data was intended for facilitating future terror attacks or other activities considered anti-national in nature.
Continuing Investigations
Sarkar has been taken to Purba Bardhaman and is expected to appear before a local court soon. Meanwhile, Mondal was apprehended a day earlier from his rented accommodation in a housing complex located in Bardhaman. The STF suspects him to be part of an ISI-supported Jaish-e-Mohammed network aimed at gathering intelligence on VIPs, which includes prominent leaders of the BJP, recruiting operatives, and potentially orchestrating terror activities within West Bengal.
Authorities revealed that Mondal’s ancestral residence is in Dirghanagar village, located in Purba Bardhaman district. His family had recently moved to the rented apartment from which he was arrested. The investigation remains active as officials work to uncover the full extent of the alleged network and the involvement of other individuals.
