{
  "id": 1640737,
  "title": "Two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives held in West Bengal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/two-suspected-jaish-e-mohammed-operatives-held-in-west-bengal",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-18T05:00:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/two-suspected-jaish-e-mohammed-operatives-held-in-west-bengal/article71291153.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two individuals, a man and a woman, have been apprehended in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district on suspicion of ties to the Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The West Bengal Police's Special Task Force (STF) seized the pair, identified as Hamim Mondal and Arpita Sarkar, from their rented residence in Bardhaman town on Friday (July 31, 2026). The duo had been in contact with JeM for over a year via social media platforms.\n\nInspector-General of the STF, Gaurav Sharma, stated that the authorities had confiscated electronic devices and documents from the suspects. Preliminary investigations suggest that the seized devices contained information regarding the movements of Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition and current Chief Minister of West Bengal, in Bardhaman during the previous year. This revelation has led investigators to explore the possibility of a potential plan to target Adhikari.\n\nMoreover, security agencies suspect that the two suspects were part of a larger network within JeM, potentially gathering intelligence on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Adhikari emphasized the sensitivity of the case, stating that it extends beyond his personal security to encompass national security concerns with international implications. The investigation points to Shahzad Bhatti, a gangster, and his associate Azmal Gujjar, as the source through whom the suspects first connected with JeM via social media approximately a year ago.\n\nBhatti's network is alleged to be involved in cross-border smuggling of narcotics and arms, with profits allegedly funding terror activities in India, allegedly with the support of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The STF has seized the electronic devices and documents from the suspects, which are currently under examination.",
  "summary": "Police say they gathered inputs on the movements of Suvendu Adhikari in Bardhaman last year",
  "key_points": [
    "Hamim Mondal and Arpita Sarkar arrested in Purba Bardhaman district.",
    "Suspects linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed via social media for over a year.",
    "Devices seized may contain intel on West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}