Bengal STF uncovers JeM suspect Hamim Mondal's Howrah tailoring shop used as cover
Synopsis
West Bengal's STF has traced a tailoring shop in Howrah's Pilkhana area — allegedly used as a covert contact point — owned by Hamim Mondal, a JeM suspect arrested in East Burdwan. Interrogation has also revealed an alleged plot to disrupt a Delhi rally by impersonating police officers, raising the stakes of what initially appeared to be a localised terror arrest.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal STF traced a tailoring shop at Alam Mistry Lane, Pilkhana, Howrah owned by JeM suspect Hamim Mondal .
Investigators suspect the shop was used as a covert contact point , with tailoring work serving as a camouflage.
Mondal's father, Moinuddin Mondal , has gone absconding since his son's arrest.
Interrogation revealed an alleged plan to disrupt a CJP rally at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi by impersonating police officers.
STF IG Gaurav Sharma confirmed plans to procure police uniforms but said it is unclear whether the suspects executed the plan.
Mondal's co-accused, Arpita Sarkar , has also been arrested; the STF investigation is ongoing.
The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police on Sunday, 2 August traced a tailoring shop owned by Hamim Mondal, a suspected member of the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), who was arrested from a housing colony in Burdwan town, East Burdwan district. The shop, located at Alam Mistry Lane in the Pilkhana area of Howrah district, is believed by investigators to have served as a covert contact point rather than a genuine commercial establishment.
The Shop and Its Suspected Role
According to sources close to the investigation, the shop ostensibly dealt in minor tailoring work — primarily preparing and stitching clothing tags. However, investigating officials reportedly suspect the tailoring business was used as a front, with the actual function being a meeting point for Mondal and his associates.
The shop sits in a narrow alley in Pilkhana, a predominantly minority-dominated locality adjacent to Kolkata. Sources indicate that Mondal had rented a one-room flat in a housing complex in the same area during his early days in West Bengal, during which period he is believed to have established the shop.
Mondal's Trail Across West Bengal
A state police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mondal first resided at Pilkhana before relocating to the New Town area on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, and later to Burdwan town, where he was eventually arrested from a upscale residential colony.
Mondal's father, Moinuddin Mondal, who reportedly lived with his son at Pilkhana, has been absconding since his son's arrest. Local residents told reporters that Hamim Mondal was an exceptionally reclusive individual who rarely interacted with neighbours during his stay in the area. Notably, locals also expressed doubts about whether the person who identified himself as Hamim's father was in fact his biological father.
Plot to Disrupt Delhi Rally Revealed
Following the interrogation of Hamim Mondal and his arrested associate Arpita Sarkar, STF officials have revealed that the two allegedly planned to disrupt a protest rally organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
STF Inspector General Gaurav Sharma said on Saturday: 'There were plans to procure police uniforms for this purpose, so that they could mix with the crowd posing as cops and thus create chaos. However, it is not clear whether Hamim or Sarkar went to Jantar Mantar or not, or whether they were ultimately successful in procuring police uniforms.'
This is a significant development in the case, pointing to an alleged operational network with ambitions beyond West Bengal. The STF investigation is ongoing, and further arrests cannot be ruled out.
What Investigators Are Probing
The STF is now examining the full scope of Mondal's network — including his financial trail, associates who visited the Pilkhana shop, and the chain of events that led him from Howrah to East Burdwan. The absconding of Moinuddin Mondal has added urgency to the probe, with officials reportedly working to trace his whereabouts.
Point of View
Which, if substantiated, would mark a tactical escalation. The absconding of Mondal's father, combined with local residents' doubts about his identity, suggests the network may be more layered than the initial arrest indicated. The STF will need to move fast before the trail goes cold.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hamim Mondal and why was he arrested?
Hamim Mondal is a suspected member of the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), arrested by the West Bengal STF from a housing colony in Burdwan town, East Burdwan district. He is being investigated for alleged terror-related activities and a reported plot to disrupt a political rally in New Delhi.
What was the tailoring shop in Pilkhana used for?
The shop at Alam Mistry Lane in Pilkhana, Howrah, ostensibly handled minor tailoring work such as stitching clothing tags. However, STF investigators reportedly suspect it served as a covert contact point for Mondal and his associates, with the tailoring business acting as a cover.
What was the alleged plot involving the Delhi rally?
According to STF Inspector General Gaurav Sharma, Hamim Mondal and his arrested associate Arpita Sarkar allegedly planned to disrupt a protest rally by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, by procuring police uniforms to impersonate officers and create chaos. It remains unclear whether they executed the plan.
Where is Hamim Mondal's father, Moinuddin Mondal?
Moinuddin Mondal, who reportedly lived with his son in Pilkhana, has been absconding since Hamim's arrest. Local residents also reportedly expressed doubts about whether the man who identified himself as Hamim's father was genuinely his biological parent.
What is the current status of the STF investigation?
The West Bengal STF investigation is ongoing. Authorities are probing Mondal's network, financial trail, and associates linked to the Pilkhana shop, while also working to trace the absconding Moinuddin Mondal. Co-accused Arpita Sarkar has also been arrested.
