Girlfriend’s Social Media Posts Helped Expose Terror Suspect, Investigators Say

Alleged Jantar Mantar Terror Plot Uncovered; Suspect Traced Through Girlfriend’s Social Media

A suspected terror operative arrested by the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) had allegedly been instructed by Pakistan-based handlers to infiltrate the recent CJP protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi disguised as a police officer and trigger unrest, investigators said on Saturday.

The accused, Hamim Mondal, was arrested from Purba Bardhaman district earlier this week. The STF alleges he was working for Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and had been assigned multiple tasks by handlers operating across the border.

Addressing a press conference, STF Inspector General Gaurav Sharma said Mondal had allegedly been directed to enter the protest site in a police uniform and create disturbances. “Pakistani handlers asked Hamim Mondal to infiltrate the student protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi while dressed in a police uniform and carry out disturbances,” Sharma said.

The STF further alleged that Mondal had also been asked to monitor the movements of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and identify locations where security arrangements could be relatively weak. “The chief minister was one of the targets. Hamim was asked to gather information on places where the chief minister could remain unguarded,” Sharma said.

A local court has remanded Mondal to 14 days of STF custody as investigators continue questioning him.

Honeytrap Investigation Led to Arrest

The investigation took a significant turn after STF officials began probing Arpita Sarkar, Mondal’s girlfriend, in connection with an alleged honeytrap and extortion case.

Sarkar was arrested from Jharkhand on Friday. According to investigators, the couple allegedly conspired—at the behest of Pakistan-based handlers linked to the Shahzad Bhatti gang—to honeytrap and kidnap the son of state minister Umesh Ray for ransom.

Officials said Sarkar allegedly used social media to establish contact with influential individuals, including politicians, and gather information that was later passed on to Mondal. Her WhatsApp chats allegedly revealed communication with Pakistan-based operatives.

The STF said it was Sarkar’s social media footprint that ultimately led investigators to Mondal. The two had reportedly met on Instagram and had been in a relationship for nearly four years.

International Links Under Scanner

During the investigation, the STF recovered international SIM cards issued in the United Kingdom and Mexico, which investigators believe were used for encrypted communication with foreign handlers and suspected sleeper cells. The agency also claimed Mondal had been radicalised through social media before coming into contact with Pakistan-based operatives.

Investigators have identified several alleged handlers—known by the aliases Rana, Uzair, Abid Jatt 333 and Hamad—who are believed to be associated with the Shahzad Bhatti gang, which the STF alleges is involved in radicalisation, terror recruitment and narco-terror activities.

Officials said efforts are now focused on uncovering the full extent of the alleged network, identifying other members of the module and tracing its cross-border links. The STF declined to disclose further operational details, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.