The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a software engineer from Delhi on suspicion of being a Pakistani spy, according to Anandabazar Patrika. The arrest follows interrogations of individuals previously detained in the Cooch Behar district, which led investigators to the engineer.
Anandabazar Patrika reports that the STF brought the engineer to West Bengal for questioning after tracing his alleged connections through the earlier arrests. The operation is part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected espionage network operating in the region.
The case has expanded beyond Cooch Behar. Indian Express Bengali reports that the STF also arrested a man named Jafar Shams from Hooghly district on similar suspicions of being a Pakistani agent. Hindustan Times adds that a person identified as Sunny was detained in connection with the same network, with allegations that he used another person's phone to speak quietly with his wife.
Sangbad Pratidin has reported a significant development in the investigation: the alleged smuggling of Indian SIM cards to Pakistan, reportedly with support from Pakistan's embassy in Dhaka. This detail, if confirmed, would link the local arrests to a cross-border operation.
The arrests have drawn political attention. A Facebook post cited by Zee 24 Ghanta quotes BJP leader Dilip Ghosh as saying that such anti-national activities are still ongoing. Ghosh's comments reference the arrest of the brother of a man named Zakir Hossain, who was previously held on suspicion of spying for Pakistan.
The STF has not yet issued a formal statement detailing the full scope of the alleged network. Investigators are expected to continue questioning the detained individuals to determine whether the operation extends to other states or involves additional suspects.
