A suspected associate of the banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Hamim Mondal, was unable to photograph or film the Chinar Park residence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during surveillance operations, because dense CCTV coverage across the area deterred him from acting, according to sources familiar with the investigation. Mondal was arrested last week from Burdwan town in East Burdwan district by the Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police.

What Mondal Admitted During Interrogation

During marathon questioning by both STF officers and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Mondal reportedly admitted that he had conducted recce of the area surrounding the Chief Minister's Chinar Park residence as well as the convoy routes used by Adhikari's security detail. However, he confirmed he was unable to capture any photographs or videos, fearing detection by the extensive surveillance network in the locality.

Mondal also disclosed that his Pakistan-based handlers had issued explicit instructions that he must not be caught on CCTV footage while conducting surveillance of VVIP residences or their surroundings. The heavy camera coverage effectively neutralised his ability to document the target area, a state police official said.

How the Recce Was Conducted

Despite being unable to record footage, Mondal reportedly adapted his methods — hiring app-based cab services at various points to conduct moving surveillance of the routes through which the Chief Minister's convoy typically travels. This tactic, investigators believe, was designed to blend in with regular commuters and avoid arousing suspicion.

The Broader Network: JeM and Shahzad Bhatti Network

Mondal's alleged terror links extended beyond JeM. Investigators say he also maintained contact with the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal syndicate. Currently, Mondal and two associates — Arpita Sarkar and Aditya Singh — remain in STF custody.

According to the investigation so far, Sarkar was allegedly deployed as a honey-trap operative, targeting politically and socially influential individuals in West Bengal and subsequently extorting money from them through blackmail. STF officials have revealed that SBN used Sarkar to target family members of at least six current West Bengal cabinet ministers, as well as other influential figures within the state's administrative machinery.

Security and Intelligence Implications

The episode underscores the role of urban surveillance infrastructure in disrupting pre-attack reconnaissance. This is among the first publicly confirmed instances in recent years where CCTV density alone is credited with disrupting a terror-linked intelligence-gathering operation targeting a sitting state chief minister. The NIA's involvement signals that the Centre is treating the case as a matter of national security, not merely a state law-enforcement matter.

As the investigation deepens, authorities are expected to probe the full extent of the network's reach into West Bengal's political and administrative establishment.