New Delhi: In an early-morning operation at around 8:30 AM, local police and the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) raided a rented apartment in Burdwan’s
Renaissance Housing complex, arresting an alleged terrorist identified as Hamid Mandal.
Investigative sources report that Mandal—believed to be affiliated with the Sajjad Bhat module of the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) network—had been living in West Bengal for several years. Intelligence officials recovered confidential documentation during the raid detailing sensitive security protocols, vehicle information, driver details, and precise movement schedules of key political figures.
Key findings & suspected foreign links
• Origin & local cover: Mandal, originally a resident of Howrah’s Pilkhana area, formerly worked at a textile factory before relocating to the Burdwan apartment two months prior with his wife and three children.
• Cross-border ties: Intelligence agencies suspect Mandal underwent training in Pakistan and functioned as an ISI handler, keeping in regular contact with overseas handlers.
• Targeted surveillance: Documents retrieved revealed granular tracking of travel routes, driver details, and parking locations used by VIP convoys, prompting security agencies to investigate potential assassination plots or contract targeting.
Reacting to the arrest, BJP MLA and former NSG commander Dipanjan Chakraborty highlighted the need to dismantle ground-level support networks for terror modules operating within the state.
Investigation officers remain tight-lipped regarding further leads as interrogations and digital forensic analyses continue.
