2 weeks ago

Bengal STF arrests three in Cooch Behar over ISI spying

Bengal STF arrests three in Cooch Behar over ISI spying
Trio held with 'ISI links' in Cooch Behar: Accused sent Indian SIM cards to Pak handlers, say police · telegraphindia.com

Police officers in West Bengal, a state in India, caught three people on a Friday night, just before India's Independence Day.

The police think these three people were working as secret agents for Pakistan's spy agency, called the ISI.

The suspects are accused of collecting Indian SIM cards, the little chips that make phones work, and sending them to Pakistan through Bangladesh.

Police also say the group had links to fake money smuggling.

The next day, the three people appeared in court, and a judge sent them to police custody for 14 days.

This is part of a bigger effort by Bengal police to catch people suspected of helping terror groups.

Earlier, police arrested a man from Pakistan named Rana Rauf, who they say entered India illegally in 2012 using fake documents.

When police questioned him, they found clues that led them to five other people possibly linked to the ISI.

Police are continuing to investigate to keep the country safe.

Key facts

Agency
West Bengal Special Task Force (STF)
Accused
Rashidul Haque, Nur Nasiruddin Ali, Shafiqul Islam
Arrest location
Sahebganj, Dinahata, Cooch Behar, West Bengal
Arrest timing
Late Friday evening, ahead of Independence Day
Court remand
14 days police custody, granted Saturday at Dinhata court
Allegations
Sending Indian SIM cards to ISI in Pakistan via Bangladesh; links to counterfeit currency smuggling
Related arrests
Rana Rauf alias Wahab Alam (Habra); Hamim Mondal; Arpita Sarkar; Aditya Singh alias Raju; Md Izaz
Discrepancy note
Reports differ on Hamim Mondal's arrest date (July 30 vs July 31) and on the third suspect's name (Shafiqul Islam vs Safikul Islam)

Quotes

Police source

Unidentified official of the Bengal Special Task Force

“The trio used to collect Indian SIM cards and send those to their handlers in ISI in Pakistan via Bangladesh. These SIMs were then used by anti-Indian forces in Pakistan to make calls and send messages to India.”
telegraphindia.com
“There is also evidence that the trio have links with the smuggling of fake currency notes.”
telegraphindia.com

Sources

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