Bengal STF arrests two for Al Qaeda-inspired jihadi module plot in South 24 Parganas
Synopsis
West Bengal's STF has arrested two men — Janadul Baig and Shafiq Sheikh — for allegedly trying to build an Al Qaeda-inspired jihadi module, recruit youth via social media pages named 'Mughalezam' and 'Jehad ki Sabibilla', and procure weapons. It is the third major STF counter-terror arrest in the state within a fortnight, revealing what security agencies describe as a widening radical network.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal STF arrested Janadul Baig (Bhangar) and Shafiq Sheikh (Birlapur) on Sunday, 16 August in South 24 Parganas .
The duo allegedly operated two social media pages — 'Mughalezam' and 'Jehad ki Sabibilla' — to spread anti-national propaganda and recruit youth.
Intelligence sources allege they were also attempting to procure weapons to build an Al Qaeda -inspired module.
In a separate case, Hamim Mondal was arrested from East Burdwan for alleged links to ISI and Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti .
Pakistani national Wahab Alam alias Rana Rauf was caught from Habra, North 24 Parganas last week; his associate Muhammed Izaz was subsequently arrested from Topsia, Kolkata .
Police will seek custody of the latest two arrestees to map their alleged network further.
The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police has arrested two persons — Janadul Baig and Shafiq Sheikh — on charges of attempting to establish a jihadi module in the state, allegedly inspired by the ideology of the militant group Al Qaeda, police said on Monday, 17 August. The arrests were made following a tip-off from a confidential source, underscoring growing security concerns in the region.
How the Arrests Unfolded
Acting on intelligence inputs, STF officers conducted simultaneous raids on Sunday in Bhangar and Birlapur, both in South 24 Parganas district. Janadul Baig was apprehended from Bhangar, while Shafiq Sheikh was picked up from Birlapur. Both accused were produced before the Alipore court on Monday, according to police.
Social Media Pages and Anti-National Propaganda
According to investigation team sources, the two accused had created and operated two social media pages — 'Mughalezam' and 'Jehad ki Sabibilla' — allegedly used to spread anti-national and anti-government propaganda. A formal complaint was also filed with the Nodakhali police station in connection with the matter.
Beyond propaganda, the accused were allegedly using these platforms to recruit youth into their nascent organisation. Intelligence sources further allege that the duo was attempting to procure weapons as part of their module-building efforts.
Part of a Broader STF Crackdown in Bengal
The arrests are the latest in a series of STF operations that have intensified across West Bengal in recent weeks. In a separate case, the STF raided East Burdwan district and arrested a youth named Hamim Mondal, who is allegedly linked to the Pakistani spy agency ISI and the network of Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti.
Last week, the STF detained Pakistani national Wahab Alam, also known as Rana Rauf, from Habra in North 24 Parganas district. Subsequent questioning led to the arrest of Muhammed Izaz from the Topsia area of Kolkata, who is initially believed to have worked as Rana's associate.
What Investigators Are Pursuing Next
Police have indicated they will seek custody of Baig and Sheikh to conduct further interrogation and map the full extent of their alleged network. The STF's back-to-back operations suggest a coordinated effort to dismantle what authorities describe as an emerging radical infrastructure in the state. This is the third significant STF arrest in West Bengal within a fortnight, pointing to a pattern that security agencies are treating with heightened urgency.
Point of View
Alongside a Pakistani national caught in North 24 Parganas, raises questions about cross-border facilitation that deserve more scrutiny than routine police statements offer. Bengal's geography — porous borders, dense population, and a history of communal fault lines — makes it a persistent theatre for such operations. Whether the STF's current momentum translates into prosecutions that hold up in court is the accountability question that will ultimately define the impact of these arrests.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were arrested by the West Bengal STF in the jihadi module case?
The West Bengal STF arrested Janadul Baig from Bhangar and Shafiq Sheikh from Birlapur, both in South 24 Parganas district, on Sunday, 16 August. They are accused of attempting to create an Al Qaeda-inspired jihadi module and spreading anti-national propaganda via social media.
What were the accused allegedly doing on social media?
According to investigation sources, the two accused operated social media pages named 'Mughalezam' and 'Jehad ki Sabibilla' to spread anti-national and anti-government content. They were also allegedly using these platforms to recruit youth into their organisation.
Are there other recent STF arrests linked to radical networks in West Bengal?
Yes. The STF recently arrested Hamim Mondal from East Burdwan for alleged ISI and Pakistani gangster links, and Pakistani national Wahab Alam alias Rana Rauf from Habra in North 24 Parganas. Rana's associate Muhammed Izaz was subsequently arrested from Topsia in Kolkata.
What happens next in the case against Janadul Baig and Shafiq Sheikh?
Both accused were produced before the Alipore court on Monday, 17 August. Police intend to seek their custody for further interrogation to uncover the full extent of their alleged network and any additional associates.
Why is West Bengal seeing a surge in STF counter-terror operations?
Security agencies have conducted at least three significant counter-terror arrests in West Bengal within a fortnight, pointing to heightened intelligence activity and what authorities describe as an emerging radical infrastructure in the state. The STF has not publicly detailed the broader trigger for the intensified operations.
