NIA interrogates JeM suspect Hamim Mondal, aide Arpita Sarkar in Bengal
Synopsis
The NIA has stepped into a West Bengal terror case that goes well beyond a routine arrest — SBN handlers from Pakistan allegedly used suspect Arpita Sarkar to honey-trap family members of at least six sitting state cabinet ministers, while bypassing their own recruit Hamim Mondal to contact her directly. The full depth of the network is still emerging.
Key Takeaways
The NIA interrogated Hamim Mondal and Arpita Sarkar in Kolkata on 3 August , days after their arrest by the West Bengal STF .
Both are suspected associates of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN) .
A third suspect, Aditya Singh , was arrested Monday morning and is expected to be questioned by NIA after court custody is granted.
SBN handlers allegedly used Sarkar to target family members of at least 6 West Bengal cabinet ministers through honey-trapping.
Handlers reportedly bypassed Mondal and contacted Sarkar directly via encrypted messages on social media platforms.
Investigators are examining digital devices, chat histories, and online communications of all arrested individuals.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday, 3 August interrogated Hamim Mondal, a suspected associate of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and his aide Arpita Sarkar in Kolkata, days after the two were arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police. The NIA's entry into the case signals the gravity of the charges, which also involve alleged links to the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal syndicate.
NIA Steps Into the Investigation
The central agency decided to join the probe given the seriousness of the allegations against Mondal and Sarkar, according to officials aware of the matter. Investigators are focused on mapping the terror network's structure, communication channels, and its handlers operating from across the border.
A third suspect, Aditya Singh — identified as Mondal's second aide — was arrested by the STF on Monday morning. Singh is expected to be produced before a district court later in the day, where the public prosecutor will seek STF custody. NIA sleuths are expected to question Singh once custody is formally granted by the court.
The Honey-Trap Operation Targeting Bengal Cabinet Families
Investigators have already established that SBN handlers used Sarkar to target family members of at least six sitting West Bengal cabinet ministers. The handlers reportedly maintained regular contact with Sarkar through encrypted messages on various social media platforms.
Notably, at a later stage the SBN handlers began contacting Sarkar independently, bypassing Mondal entirely — suggesting she had become a direct operational asset of the Pakistan-based network. Beyond cabinet families, some other influential figures in the state's administrative machinery were also allegedly targeted for honey-trapping through Sarkar, according to the investigation so far.
Digital Trail Under Scrutiny
Investigators are currently examining the digital devices, chat histories, and online communications of all arrested individuals. State police officials said the aim is to uncover the full picture of everyone involved, their specific roles, and the extent of the network's reach within West Bengal.
Sources said that more names are expected to surface as the interrogation progresses, indicating the network may be wider than currently known.
What Comes Next
With the NIA now formally in the frame, the investigation is likely to widen beyond West Bengal. The agency's involvement typically precedes the filing of charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which carries stringent bail conditions. The full scale of the SBN's infiltration into Bengal's political and administrative circles is expected to become clearer as interrogations continue.
Point of View
If confirmed, would represent one of the more brazen foreign-intelligence penetration attempts into an Indian state government in recent memory. Mainstream coverage has focused on the arrests; the more consequential story is how deep this network runs and whether the NIA's probe will lead to UAPA charges that can withstand judicial scrutiny.
NationPress
3 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hamim Mondal and why has the NIA interrogated him?
Hamim Mondal is a suspected associate of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), arrested last week by the West Bengal STF. The NIA stepped in to interrogate him on 3 August due to the seriousness of the terror-related charges and to map the network's reach within India.
What is the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN)?
The Shahzad Bhatti Network is a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal group allegedly linked to both Hamim Mondal and Arpita Sarkar. SBN handlers reportedly used encrypted messaging on social media to direct operations in West Bengal, including targeting state officials' family members.
How were West Bengal cabinet ministers' families targeted?
According to investigators, SBN handlers used Arpita Sarkar to honey-trap family members of at least six sitting West Bengal cabinet ministers. At a later stage, handlers began contacting Sarkar directly via encrypted messages, bypassing Mondal entirely.
Who is Aditya Singh and what is his role in the case?
Aditya Singh is identified as a second aide of Hamim Mondal, arrested by the West Bengal STF on the morning of 3 August. He is expected to be produced before a district court, after which the NIA plans to interrogate him once custody is formally granted.
What happens next in the NIA investigation?
Investigators are examining digital devices, chat histories, and online communications of all arrested individuals. More names are expected to surface as interrogations proceed, and the NIA's involvement could lead to charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
