Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network utilized detained social influencer Arpita Sarkar to honey-trap family of six state ministers and other powerful persons for information collection, according to the West Bengal STF. Police investigate encrypted messages and Pakistani-linked social media accounts.



The Special Task Force (STF) of the Bengal Police found that the Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), a Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal group, targeted the families of at least six West Bengal cabinet members through Arpita Sarkar, the female aide of suspected JeM associate Hamim Mondal.

SBN handlers often sent Arpita Sarkar encrypted communications on social media.

State police sources indicated that Sarkar was first a recruit of Hamim Mondal, but subsequently the Pakistan-based terrorist-criminal group's handlers would contact her and deliver orders separately.

The inquiry has shown that Sarkar honeytrapped several key state administrative officials besides cabinet members' families. STF sleuths nabbed Mondal and Sarkar last week.

Mondal was detained first from Burdwan town in East Burdwan district of West Bengal on Friday morning, followed by Sarkar from Sahibganj in Jharkhand the same night. Sarkar, a social influencer, has two STF-seized phones. Experts are deciphering the encrypted transmission between her and the (SBN) handlers from these two phones.

Mondal admitted to introducing Sarkar to SBN handlers during interrogation. Due to her honey-trapping potential, SBN handlers began contacting her independently and coaching her, sources added.

Initial investigations showed that Sarkar began contacting key West Bengalis, including politicians, to get secret information. Her many social media clips might draw individuals.

After questioning Mondal and Sarkar, detectives followed ‘Rana’, ‘Uzair’, ‘Abid Jat333’, and ‘Hamad’ on social media. Investigations showed that all these social media identities belonged to Pakistanis. The inquiry found that these Pakistani handles utilized British and Mexican SIM cards.