KOLKATA: A 22-year-old woman from Jharkhand, arrested alongside a suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) operative, was allegedly being groomed by Pakistan-based handlers to run espionage and honey-trap operations in India, according to investigators.The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) said it is investigating an alleged plan to build an espionage network using Arpita Sarkar, who officers describe as an associate of suspected JeM operative Mohammed Hamim Mondal.Mondal was arrested in West Bengal’s Purba Bardhaman district on Friday, while Sarkar was arrested from Sahibganj in Jharkhand on Saturday.‘Training’ for honey-trap and espionageAccording to investigators, Sarkar was allegedly trying to establish contact with senior state police officers, politicians and their secretaries through her social media accounts to gather sensitive information.“She was also being trained in honey-trap operations, abductions and assassinations,” a source said.Investigators believe she was being prepared to take on a role similar to that of arrested alleged ISI operative and influencer Jyoti Malhotra.Encrypted communication under scannerA senior STF officer said the investigation found that Mondal and Sarkar had allegedly communicated with Pakistan-based handlers through encrypted messaging applications that do not require mobile SIM cards.“We are investigating all aspects, including the communication channels used, the people who were in contact with the accused and whether any other individuals were being prepared for similar activities,” the officer told PTI.The officer said investigators were examining the alleged use of two encrypted messaging platforms.“These applications allow communication without sharing phone numbers and do not store data on a specific server, making tracking more difficult,” he said.Alleged plot to target minister’s sonThe STF has alleged that Mondal and Sarkar conspired to honey-trap the son of a minister of state in West Bengal before abducting him and extorting money from his family.According to a senior STF officer, the alleged conspiracy was orchestrated at the behest of Pakistan-based handlers linked to the Shahzad Bhatti gang.Investigators said several suspected handlers had been identified during the interrogation of the two accused.The names of individuals including Rana, Uzair, Abid Jatt and Hamad have surfaced, with the STF suspecting they are linked to Pakistan-based operators.Social media ambitionsSarkar, a resident of Barharwa in Jharkhand’s Sahibganj district, comes from a middle-class family. She is the younger of two sisters. Her father runs a grocery shop, while her mother, who worked as an anganwadi worker, died five years ago.According to investigators, Sarkar aspired to become a social media influencer.“She was also interested in modelling and riding motorcycles, often posting pictures and videos online,” the IPS officer said.STF officials suspect Mondal and his alleged handlers used her online presence to establish contacts and intended to involve her in building a wider espionage network beyond alleged honey-trap operations.Investigation continuesThe STF said it is continuing to investigate the alleged network, including the role of Pakistan-based handlers, the accused’s communication channels and whether others were being recruited for similar activities.
