#JUSTIN: Investigators Link Terror Suspect To Alleged Jantar Mantar Plot Through Social Media

A suspected operative linked to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) allegedly planned to infiltrate a recent protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and gather intelligence on the movements of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, according to the state's Special Task Force (STF). The accused, Hamim Mondal, was arrested from Purba Bardhaman district, while investigators claim he was acting under instructions from Pakistan-based handlers. A court has remanded him to 14 days of STF custody as the investigation continues.

Addressing a press conference, Inspector General (STF) Gaurav Sharma said Mondal's handlers had allegedly instructed him to enter the student protest at Jantar Mantar disguised in a police uniform and create unrest. The STF also alleged that Mondal had been tasked with monitoring the movements of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to identify occasions when his security could be vulnerable. Officials said the chief minister was among the intended targets, although they have not disclosed further operational details due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.

The probe expanded further with the arrest of Mondal's girlfriend, Arpita Sarkar, from Jharkhand. According to the STF, the two had allegedly conspired to honeytrap and kidnap the son of West Bengal minister Umesh Ray with the aim of extorting money from the family. Investigators claim they were operating at the behest of Pakistan-based handlers linked to the Shahzad Bhatti gang. During the investigation, the STF recovered international SIM cards issued in the United Kingdom and Mexico, which are suspected to have been used for encrypted communication with handlers and sleeper cells.

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Officials also alleged that Sarkar had honey-trapped several influential individuals, including politicians, to obtain sensitive information, which was then passed on to Mondal. The STF said WhatsApp conversations recovered during the investigation revealed alleged links with Pakistan-based operatives. Investigators further stated that an examination of Mondal's mobile phone and social media activity suggested he had been radicalised online before allegedly coming into contact with Pakistan-based handlers.

According to the STF, the suspected handlers—identified as "Rana", "Uzair", "Abid Jatt 333", and "Hamad"—are believed to be associated with the Shahzad Bhatti gang, which authorities allege is involved in radicalisation, terror recruitment, and narco-terror activities. Investigators said Mondal and Sarkar first connected through Instagram and had been in a relationship for nearly four years. The agency traced Mondal after initially identifying Sarkar's social media accounts during a separate honeytrap investigation. Officials said efforts are now focused on uncovering the full extent of the alleged terror network, identifying other members of the module, and establishing its cross-border links. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have indicated that additional details cannot be disclosed at this stage owing to national security concerns.

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