West Bengal native detained in Kalaburagi over suspected LeT links; Priyank Kharge urges employers to conduct background checks

A West Bengal native, identified as Mumtaz-ul-Malik, was detained in Kalaburagi on October 18, 2026, in connection with suspected links to the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The arrest was made as part of a joint operation by central intelligence agencies and Kalaburagi police. The suspect allegedly communicated with social media accounts linked to the LeT and is suspected of sharing sensitive information through messages.

He had been working at a jewellery workshop in Saraf Bazaar, Kalaburagi, for the past one-and-a-half years alongside his brother.

Home Minister Priyank Kharge addressed media representatives in Kalaburagi and urged employers to conduct background checks on workers to prevent similar incidents. He stated that the detention marked the fifth or sixth case of this nature reported recently, with both individuals involved being from outside Karnataka. Kharge emphasized that while the government would assist employers with the verification process, people from other states had a constitutional right to work in Karnataka.

He announced plans to convene a meeting with representatives of e-commerce platforms, delivery companies, logistics firms, factories, and textile mills to establish a standard operating procedure for employee background verification following the festival season. The investigation into this case is ongoing, with police examining digital communications and other evidence to determine the extent of the alleged links.