West Bengal STF arrests 3 more ISI-linked spies from Cooch Behar
Synopsis
West Bengal's STF has arrested three more suspected ISI-linked operatives from Cooch Behar, bringing the state's counter-espionage tally to at least five arrests within weeks. The alleged network spans SIM card smuggling, counterfeit currency, and Nepal-based relay operators — pointing to a sophisticated, multi-country pipeline that investigators are still unravelling.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal STF arrested Rashidul Haque , Nur Nasiruddin Ali , and Shafiqul Islam from Sahebganj, Cooch Behar late on Friday night, 15 August .
The trio allegedly procured Indian SIM cards and routed them through Bangladesh to Pakistan , and are also linked to counterfeit currency operations.
Earlier, Wahab Alam of Faisalabad, Pakistan was arrested on 12 August from Habra, North 24 Parganas ; he allegedly used five Nepal-based operators to communicate with ISI handlers.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has contacted Bengal STF for case details, signalling possible federal escalation.
Last month, alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed associate Hamim Mondal was arrested from Burdwan , underlining a pattern of cross-border militant and spy activity in Bengal.
The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police arrested three more suspected Pakistani spies allegedly linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) from the Sahebganj area of Cooch Behar district in north Bengal late on Friday night, police said on Saturday, 15 August. The arrests are the latest in a widening counter-espionage sweep that has now netted multiple suspects across the state within weeks.
Who Was Arrested
The three individuals taken into custody have been identified as Rashidul Haque, Nur Nasiruddin Ali, and Shafiqul Islam. Preliminary investigation has reportedly revealed that the three were operating as spies, according to police. Investigators are continuing to interrogate the arrested men to extract further details of their alleged network.
How the Alleged Network Operated
According to STF sources, the arrested individuals allegedly procured Indian mobile SIM cards locally and routed them to Bangladesh, from where they reportedly moved on to Pakistan. The trio is also allegedly involved in the counterfeit currency trade. Investigators are now working to establish whether the three had any contact with other Pakistani spies arrested earlier this month, including with the network of Rana Rauf alias Wahab Alam.
The Wahab Alam Connection
Wahab Alam, a resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan, was arrested on 12 August from Habra in North 24 Parganas district, near the India-Bangladesh border, following specific intelligence inputs. Preliminary STF findings revealed his alleged links with the ISI, prompting the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to contact the Bengal STF for details. During interrogation, Alam reportedly broke down and confessed to using five Nepal-based operators — whose identities were recovered from his netbook — to maintain communication with his ISI handlers in Pakistan.
Broader Pattern of Arrests in Bengal
The latest detentions come amid a series of security operations in West Bengal that have surfaced an alleged cross-border espionage and militant support network. Last month, Bengal Police arrested Hamim Mondal, an alleged associate of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), from a rented accommodation in Burdwan town in East Burdwan district. This is the third significant counter-espionage operation in the state within weeks, pointing to what investigators describe as an active and layered ISI-linked presence in the Bengal-Bangladesh border belt.
What Comes Next
The STF is conducting a thorough investigation to map the full extent of the network, including possible links between the latest arrestees and Wahab Alam's Nepal-based operators. The NIA's involvement signals that the case may escalate to the federal level. Security agencies are also expected to intensify surveillance along the India-Bangladesh border in light of the emerging intelligence picture.
Point of View
A Pakistani national in North 24 Parganas, a JeM associate in Burdwan — the Bengal STF's recent operations sketch a geography of infiltration that runs the length of the state's border belt. What is striking is the operational diversity: SIM card smuggling, counterfeit currency, and ISI-linked communication relays through Nepal are not isolated crimes but interlocking tradecraft. The NIA's entry into the Wahab Alam case suggests central agencies now believe this is not a local law-and-order problem but a structured intelligence threat. The unanswered question is how long these networks operated undetected, and whether the current arrests represent the full picture or merely the visible tip.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the three suspected Pakistani spies arrested in Cooch Behar?
The three individuals arrested by the West Bengal STF from Sahebganj in Cooch Behar are Rashidul Haque, Nur Nasiruddin Ali, and Shafiqul Islam. They were taken into custody late on Friday night and are being interrogated for their alleged roles as ISI-linked operatives.
What was the alleged modus operandi of the Cooch Behar spy network?
According to STF sources, the arrested individuals allegedly collected Indian mobile SIM cards and sent them to Bangladesh, from where they reportedly reached Pakistan. They are also allegedly involved in counterfeit currency operations, according to police.
Who is Wahab Alam and how is he connected to this case?
Wahab Alam, also known as Rana Rauf, is a Pakistani national from Faisalabad who was arrested on 12 August from Habra in North 24 Parganas. He allegedly used five Nepal-based operators to relay communications with his ISI handlers; investigators are now probing whether the latest Cooch Behar arrestees had contact with him or his network.
Is the NIA involved in the West Bengal spy arrests?
Yes. The National Investigation Agency has contacted the Bengal STF to obtain details of the investigation into Wahab Alam following preliminary findings of his alleged ISI links. The NIA's involvement suggests the case could be taken up at the federal level.
What is the broader pattern of security arrests in West Bengal recently?
Within the past month, West Bengal Police and STF have arrested at least five individuals with alleged ISI or militant links across multiple districts, including an alleged Jaish-e-Mohammed associate from Burdwan. The arrests point to what investigators describe as an active cross-border espionage and militant support network operating along the Bengal-Bangladesh border.
