Bengal STF arrests second ISI-linked associate of Pakistani national Wahab Alam
Synopsis
West Bengal's STF has now arrested six people — including a Pakistani national with alleged ISI links — in what is shaping up as one of the most significant espionage busts in the state in recent years. With the NIA stepping in and interrogations widening, the full scope of the alleged spy network is still being unravelled.
Key Takeaways
Imran Hossain of Topsia, East Kolkata , was arrested on 17 August as the third person held in the Wahab Alam ISI-linked spy case.
Wahab Alam , a Pakistani national , allegedly entered West Bengal via Nepal in 2012 and lived on forged Indian identity documents.
Earlier arrestee Mohammad Izaz allegedly procured those forged documents; Hossain allegedly helped Alam remain operational.
On 14 August , three Indian citizens — Rashidul Haque , Nur Nasiruddin Ali , and Shafiqul Islam — were arrested from Cooch Behar on suspicion of spying for Pakistan.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has contacted the Bengal STF and is expected to interrogate key accused shortly.
The Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police has arrested a second associate of Wahab Alam, a Pakistani national with alleged links to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who was apprehended earlier this month from Habra in North 24 Parganas district. The latest arrest, confirmed by a state police official on Monday, 17 August, brings the total number of persons held in the case to three, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) now stepping in to take stock of the investigation.
Who Was Arrested
The newly arrested individual has been identified as Imran Hossain, a resident of Topsia in East Kolkata. He was taken into custody from his residence, though the exact time of the arrest was not disclosed by officials. Hossain is the third person held in connection with the Wahab Alam case, following the earlier arrest of Mohammad Izaz, also a resident of Topsia.
How the Network Allegedly Operated
According to investigators, Wahab Alam illegally entered West Bengal via Nepal in 2012 and subsequently took up residence at Izaz's home in Topsia. Izaz is alleged to have been instrumental in procuring forged Indian identity documents for the Pakistani national, enabling him to live and operate under a false identity. Hossain, investigators allege, also played a role in facilitating Alam's stay in the state and his activities on behalf of the ISI. The STF says it identified Hossain after separately and jointly interrogating Alam and Izaz.
Cooch Behar Arrests Add to the Case
In a related development, STF personnel on the night of 14 August arrested three other suspected Pakistani spies — all Indian citizens — from the Sahebganj area of Cooch Behar, a district bordering Bangladesh. The three have been named as Rashidul Haque, Nur Nasiruddin Ali, and Shafiqul Islam. Their precise roles in the broader espionage network are still being established.
NIA Steps In
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun gathering information on Wahab Alam after preliminary STF findings pointed to his alleged ISI connections. The NIA has contacted the Bengal STF to obtain case details and is expected to interrogate Alam and Izaz shortly. If required, the agency may also question Hossain and the three individuals arrested from Cooch Behar. Hossain is currently being interrogated by STF sleuths, who are working to determine the full extent of his involvement and identify any further associates operating against national security.
What Comes Next
With the NIA's entry, the case is likely to be examined under a wider counter-intelligence lens. Investigators are reportedly probing whether the network extends beyond those already in custody. The arrests come at a time of heightened security scrutiny along West Bengal's porous borders with both Nepal and Bangladesh, routes that have previously been flagged as conduits for cross-border infiltration.
Point of View
Suggesting a gap of over a decade before detection. That timeline raises uncomfortable questions about how long such networks can operate undetected in border states with multiple porous frontiers. The NIA's entry is the right call, but the real test is whether interrogations yield the full architecture of the network rather than just its foot soldiers.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Wahab Alam and why was he arrested?
Wahab Alam is a Pakistani national arrested earlier in August from Habra in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. He is alleged to have ISI links and reportedly entered India illegally via Nepal in 2012, living under forged Indian identity documents while carrying out activities assigned by Pakistan's spy agency.
Who is Imran Hossain and what is his alleged role?
Imran Hossain is a resident of Topsia in East Kolkata arrested by the Bengal STF on 17 August. He is alleged to have helped Wahab Alam stay in West Bengal and carry out ISI-assigned activities using forged identity documents.
Why has the NIA got involved in the West Bengal spy case?
The National Investigation Agency stepped in after the STF's preliminary investigation revealed Wahab Alam's alleged links to Pakistan's ISI. The NIA has contacted the Bengal STF for case details and is expected to interrogate the key accused, given the national security implications of the case.
Who were the three people arrested from Cooch Behar?
Rashidul Haque, Nur Nasiruddin Ali, and Shafiqul Islam — all Indian citizens — were arrested on the night of 14 August from the Sahebganj area of Cooch Behar, a district bordering Bangladesh. They are suspected of being part of the same Pakistani spy network.
How did Wahab Alam allegedly obtain Indian identity documents?
According to investigators, Mohammad Izaz — one of the earlier arrestees — was instrumental in arranging forged Indian identity documents for Wahab Alam, allowing the Pakistani national to live and operate in West Bengal under a false identity since 2012.
