Bengal STF arrests second JeM-linked aide in Howrah BJP MLA threat case
Synopsis
West Bengal's STF has now arrested three people linked to a suspected JeM-Pakistan network that allegedly targeted BJP MLA Umesh Rai for blackmail and abduction. The latest detainee, Aditya Singh, reportedly supplied the network with real-time intelligence on Rai's movements — and documents recovered from the group have prompted a security upgrade for Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
Key Takeaways
Aditya Singh (alias Raj) arrested from Belilious Road, Howrah by West Bengal STF on 3 August .
He is the second aide of suspected JeM operative Hamim Mondal , who was arrested last week from Burdwan .
Singh allegedly supplied Mondal with intelligence on BJP MLA Umesh Rai and his family, who were targets for honey-trapping, blackmail, and abduction.
Mondal and associate Arpita Sarkar are linked to the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) .
Incriminating documents on CM Suvendu Adhikari's schedule were recovered; his security has since been enhanced.
All three accused are in or facing STF custody ; further arrests are not ruled out.
The Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police on Monday, 3 August arrested Aditya Singh, also known as Raj, the second known associate of suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative Hamim Mondal, from his residence on Belilious Road in Howrah district. The arrest follows the STF's detention last week of Mondal and his associate Arpita Sarkar, both of whom are currently serving 14 days of STF custody.
How the Arrest Unfolded
STF sleuths reached Singh's Howrah residence late Sunday night and conducted a prolonged interrogation through the night. He was formally arrested on Monday morning and is scheduled to be produced before a district court later in the day, where the public prosecutor is expected to seek STF custody for further questioning.
According to police insiders, the lead on Singh emerged during the interrogation of Hamim Mondal and Arpita Sarkar following their arrests last week — Mondal from Burdwan town in East Burdwan district on Friday, and Sarkar from Sahibganj in neighbouring Jharkhand the same night.
Singh's Alleged Role in the Racket
Investigators believe Singh played a critical role in supplying Mondal with detailed information about Umesh Rai — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator from Howrah-Uttar Assembly constituency and a Minister of State in the West Bengal cabinet — as well as Rai's family members. The targets were reportedly identified for honey-trapping, blackmail, and, if required, abduction followed by ransom demands.
Singh is also alleged to have been behind a threat call that Umesh Rai reportedly received following the recently concluded Assembly polls. Sources said he provided regular updates on Rai's movements and those of his family to Mondal.
The Pakistan-Linked Network
Both Mondal and Sarkar are believed to have been close associates of the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal organisation. During searches, STF officers recovered what are described as crucial and incriminating documents relating to the schedule and movements of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, following which his security arrangements have reportedly been enhanced.
Investigation Continues
'Further investigation is on to reveal the detailed role of Aditya Singh in the entire racket. He is being interrogated to gather information about his other associates in the matter,' a state police official said. The STF has not ruled out additional arrests as the probe deepens into the alleged JeM-linked network operating within West Bengal.
Point of View
Rather than building the case from scratch. What is more significant than the arrests themselves is what was recovered: documents tracking a sitting Chief Minister's movements. That points to a network with operational ambitions well beyond one MLA. The Pakistan-SBN link, if substantiated in court, would also raise uncomfortable questions about how such a cell embedded itself in West Bengal's political geography with apparent ease.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Aditya Singh and why was he arrested?
Aditya Singh, also known as Raj, is a Howrah-based individual arrested by the West Bengal STF on 3 August for allegedly supplying intelligence on BJP MLA Umesh Rai and his family to suspected JeM operative Hamim Mondal. He is also believed to have made a threat call to Rai after the recent Assembly polls.
Who is Hamim Mondal and what is his alleged connection to JeM?
Hamim Mondal is a suspected associate of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), arrested by West Bengal STF from Burdwan town last Friday. He and his associate Arpita Sarkar are also linked to the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal group.
Who is Umesh Rai and why was he targeted?
Umesh Rai is the BJP legislator from the Howrah-Uttar Assembly constituency and a Minister of State in the West Bengal cabinet. According to investigators, he and his family were targeted by the SBN network for honey-trapping, blackmail, and potential abduction for ransom.
What is the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)?
The Shahzad Bhatti Network is described by investigators as a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal organisation. Both Hamim Mondal and Arpita Sarkar are believed to have been close associates of this network, which allegedly directed operations against political targets in West Bengal.
Why was Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's security enhanced?
STF officers recovered documents from Hamim Mondal that reportedly contained details of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's schedule and movements. As a precaution, his security arrangements have since been upgraded, according to state police sources.
