Honeytrap To Target Politicians? West Bengal STF Arrests Jharkhand Woman Linked to Suspected Jaish Operative

The West Bengal Police's Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a woman accomplice of suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative Hamim Mondal, with investigators now probing a possible honeytrap network allegedly used to gather sensitive information on political leaders in the state. The woman, identified as Arpita Sarkar, was arrested from Jharkhand's Sahebganj on Friday and brought to Bardhaman for further questioning.

Woman Held From Jharkhand, Called Mondal's Close Aide

According to police, Sarkar was apprehended after STF investigators uncovered her alleged links with Mondal during his interrogation. An STF team travelled to Sahebganj and carried out the arrest with the help of local police before bringing her back to Bardhaman in Bengal.

Officials described Sarkar as Mondal's close associate and girlfriend, adding that the two were allegedly in regular contact through WhatsApp, with chats between them recovered during the investigation. Digital Arrest Scam: CBI Arrests 3 Including Ex-Bank Official in INR 1.6 Crore Cyber Fraud Case.

Suspected Operative Arrested A Day Earlier

Mohammad Hamim Mondal, the suspected JeM operative, was arrested from a rented apartment in a housing complex in Bardhaman town on Thursday. He is suspected to be part of an ISI-backed network allegedly tasked with collecting intelligence on VIPs, including BJP leaders, recruiting operatives, and laying the groundwork for possible terror activities in the state.

Police allege that Mondal used Sarkar to establish contacts with influential political leaders in West Bengal and gather personal information about them. Gujarat Cyber Fraud Busted: CID Arrests 6 in INR 210-Crore Network Connected to 273 Nationwide Cases.

Honeytrap Network Under Investigation

An official quoted by news agency PTI said Sarkar allegedly played a key role in a honeytrap network used to lure targets as part of the suspected module's activities. Investigators believe the accused attempted to build a network to access sensitive personal information of certain political personalities, with Sarkar allegedly used to develop contacts and facilitate the collection of such information.

"We are verifying the digital evidence and examining the exact nature of her role," the official added.

Police are also probing whether the information allegedly gathered by Sarkar was intended for planning attacks.

CM Suvendu Adhikari's Movements Allegedly Tracked

Preliminary investigation suggests Mondal had been tracking the movements of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, including the routes taken by his convoy. Reacting to the arrest, Adhikari called it a sensitive issue, saying the STF and senior police officers were handling the case and that Mondal may have international connections that police are investigating.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 01, 2026 04:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).