Security crackdown in WB—Two suspects, including Pakistani, held ahead of Independence Day
Kolkata, August 12: Two suspects, including Pakistani national Wahab Alam alias Rana Rauf, were arrested by the West Bengal STF ahead of Independence Day—Rana from Habra in North 24 Parganas and his associate Mohammad Ijaz from Tapasia, Kolkata—after initial investigation suggested Ijaz worked closely with Rana, reported WB STF
As per the STF, both of them are primarily suspected to have links with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI. A source close to the investigation said that Rana is associated with the Pakistani Army and entered India via Kathmandu as an ISI handler. Investigators have found that he had visited India several times before.
According to STF sources, Wahab Alam alias Rana lived in the Tapasiya area and worked odd jobs there. He had obtained several fake identity cards, including an Aadhaar card, under the name “Wahab.” Ijaz assisted Rana in this effort.
According to investigators, Rana, acting as a “handler” for a Pakistani intelligence agency, primarily operated from Kathmandu. However, he frequently traveled to India for work. He recently entered India through the Kakarbhitta border. It is alleged that Rana primarily monitored Indian military and railway infrastructure to gather information, which was then transmitted to Pakistan. The investigation is also underway to determine whether Rana had planned any terrorist activities.
Earlier, on July 30, the STF arrested a young man named Hamim Mandal from Burdwan on charges of terrorist links. Along with Hamim, his alleged girlfriend, Arpita Sarkar, and a young man named Aditya Singh alias Raj were also arrested. It is alleged that she had regular contact with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, and the gang of notorious Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti.
According to the allegations, plans were made to carry out terrorist and subversive activities in West Bengal. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was the target. Later, the investigation revealed that Arpita was used as a honeytrap. She would lure politicians, ministers, and officials into love affairs and extract important and sensitive information from them.
Now, the investigation has expanded the scope of the investigation with the arrest of another suspect suspected of having links to the ISI.
