Archive · 16 Aug 2026
ISI agents arrested in Bengal's Cooch Behar for SIM smuggling
Some young men were arrested by the police in a part of India called West Bengal.
The police think these men were helping a secret group from Pakistan called the ISI.
The men are accused of making Indian phone SIM cards and sending them to another country, Bangladesh, and then to Pakistan.
The police also think one of the men was involved with fake money.
The men were taken to court, and the judge said they must stay with the police for 14 days.
Their families were very surprised and said they did not know about any of this.
One father said his son just worked on farms and buildings.
The police are still looking into whether more people are part of this group.
A local leader said there might be more people involved in different parts of the state.
The police are trying to find and arrest them too.
Three youths were arrested in West Bengal's Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur on suspicion of links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The Special Task Force (STF) arrested Saiful from Panjipara in North Dinajpur, and Rashidul and Nasiruddin from Dinhata-II block.
A Dinhata court remanded all three to 14 days of police custody on Saturday.
Nasiruddin is allegedly involved in preparing Indian SIM cards sent to Bangladesh via a person identified as Akbar, alias Samrat, and then to Pakistan.
Rashidul is also allegedly linked to a fake Indian currency network, and investigators are probing a wider network along the border.
- Who
- Three youths—Saiful, Rashidul, and Nasiruddin—arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) in West Bengal.
- What
- They were arrested on suspicion of links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), allegedly preparing Indian SIM cards sent to Pakistan via Bangladesh, and Rashidul's alleged link to a fake Indian currency network.
- When
- Arrests occurred late Friday, with a Dinhata court remanding them to 14 days of police custody on Saturday.
- Where
- Cooch Behar and North Dinajpur districts in West Bengal, India, near the India-Bangladesh border.
- Why
- Investigators suspect the alleged activities were part of a wider international network operating along the border.
Families and residents
Police and MLA
Guilt of the arrested youths
Families and residents
Families say they had no knowledge of the alleged activities; Nasiruddin's father described him as an agricultural and construction worker who traveled for work.
Police and MLA
Police and MLA Ajay Roy assert there are alleged links to ISI and a wider network, with identification and further arrests underway.
- Arrested individuals
- Saiful, Rashidul, Nasiruddin
- Arresting agency
- Special Task Force (STF)
- Locations
- Panjipara (North Dinajpur), Dinhata-II block (Cooch Behar)
- Court remand
- 14 days police custody by Dinhata court
- Alleged activity
- Preparing Indian SIM cards sent to Bangladesh and Pakistan
- Alleged accomplice
- Akbar, alias Samrat
- Related allegation
- Rashidul linked to fake Indian currency network
- MLA comment
- Ajay Roy (Dinhata MLA) claims network may extend beyond the three arrested