JeM threat: Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari shifts to bulletproof vehicle
Synopsis
West Bengal's Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is now travelling in a bulletproof vehicle after STF arrests exposed a JeM-linked operative carrying detailed records of his daily movements — the first confirmed instance of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed allegedly targeting a sitting Bengal CM, and a stark sign of the group's deepening footprint in eastern India.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari began using a bulletproof vehicle on Sunday evening following a credible JeM threat to his life.
STF arrested suspected JeM associate Hamim Mondal from Burdwan town and his aide Arpita Sarkar ; both are also linked to the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) .
Incriminating documents detailing CM Adhikari's daily schedule and movement were recovered from Mondal's possession.
Close aide Chandranath Rath was assassinated on 6 May at Madhyamgram , North 24 Parganas , just two days after election results were declared.
This is reportedly the first confirmed JeM-linked plot targeting a sitting West Bengal Chief Minister .
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has begun travelling in a bulletproof vehicle following the disclosure of credible, life-threatening intelligence linking the Pakistan-based, UN-designated terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) to a plot targeting him. The development follows back-to-back arrests by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police of suspected JeM associate Hamim Mondal and his female aide Arpita Sarkar, both of whom are also reportedly connected to the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), another Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal outfit.
What the STF Uncovered
Hamim Mondal was arrested from Burdwan town in East Burdwan district on Friday morning. STF personnel recovered several incriminating documents from his possession, including details of Chief Minister Adhikari's daily schedules and movement patterns — raising immediate alarm among security planners. The recovery of such operational intelligence is being treated as a serious indicator of active surveillance of the Chief Minister.
The Shift to Bulletproof Security
According to sources within the state police, CM Adhikari had already been assigned a bulletproof vehicle as part of his convoy since assuming office following the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. However, he had reportedly preferred not to use it during routine public interactions. That changed on Sunday evening, when he travelled in the bulletproof vehicle from his ancestral residence in Kanthi, East Midnapore district, to Kolkata. A state police official confirmed that, given the severity of the current threat, the Chief Minister will now be required to use the vehicle consistently.
Background: Assassination of a Close Aide
The security escalation is not without precedent. On 6 May — just two days after the Assembly election results were declared — Chandranath Rath, a close aide of CM Adhikari, was assassinated at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district. According to reports, one vehicle blocked Rath's car while motorcycle-borne assailants fired at him at close range. Rath died on the spot. Following that attack, top security officers had advised the Chief Minister to travel exclusively in a bulletproof vehicle — advice he had not acted upon until now.
The JeM and SBN Threat Landscape
The involvement of JeM — the group behind multiple high-profile attacks on Indian soil, including the 2019 Pulwama bombing — marks a significant escalation in the threat profile facing a state-level political figure. The simultaneous link to the Shahzad Bhatti Network suggests a cross-organisational nexus operating from across the border. This is the first confirmed instance of JeM-linked operatives allegedly targeting a sitting West Bengal Chief Minister, and it raises broader questions about the group's expanding operational footprint within eastern India.
What Comes Next
The STF is continuing its investigation into both Mondal and Sarkar, and further arrests are possible as the network is mapped. Security arrangements around CM Adhikari are expected to be reviewed comprehensively. The incident is also likely to prompt a wider intelligence-sharing exercise between the West Bengal Police, central agencies, and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Point of View
A geography that has historically received less counter-terror attention than the northwest. The link to the Shahzad Bhatti Network alongside JeM points to a convergence of terrorist and criminal infrastructure that is harder to disrupt than single-group cells. The assassination of Chandranath Rath in May, which drew limited national attention, now looks like a possible precursor rather than an isolated political crime. Central agencies cannot treat this as a Bengal-specific law-and-order matter.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari using a bulletproof vehicle?
CM Suvendu Adhikari has shifted to a bulletproof vehicle after the STF arrested a suspected JeM operative who was found carrying detailed records of the Chief Minister's daily schedule and movements, indicating an active surveillance-based threat to his life.
Who were arrested in connection with the JeM threat to CM Adhikari?
The STF arrested Hamim Mondal from Burdwan town in East Burdwan district and his aide Arpita Sarkar. Both are suspected JeM associates and are also reportedly linked to the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN).
What is the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)?
The Shahzad Bhatti Network is a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal group. Both arrested suspects — Hamim Mondal and Arpita Sarkar — are reportedly connected to it alongside their alleged JeM links, suggesting a cross-organisational nexus.
Who was Chandranath Rath and how is his death connected?
Chandranath Rath was a close aide of CM Adhikari who was assassinated on 6 May at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas, just two days after West Bengal Assembly election results were declared. Motorcycle-borne assailants shot him at close range after blocking his vehicle. His killing had already prompted security officials to advise Adhikari to use a bulletproof vehicle.
What is Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and why is its involvement significant?
Jaish-e-Mohammed is a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation designated by the United Nations. It is responsible for major attacks on Indian soil, including the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Its alleged targeting of a sitting West Bengal Chief Minister marks a notable expansion of its operational focus into eastern India.
