At least two persons, including a rifleman of the Indian Army, have been arrested from north Bengal on charges of working as operatives of various international intelligence networks. The rifleman, Farid Ahmed, was allegedly working for the intelligence wing of Pakistan, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.
While Ahmed was arrested a few days back, the announcement was made by the Army on Sunday as he was handed over to the Special Cell of Delhi Police.
According to State police sources, a trader from Assam was also arrested from north Bengal on Sunday on suspicion of having links with north-eastern militants and “possibly” the Islamic State (IS). MoD spokesperson in Kolkata, Wing Commander S.S. Birdi, said that Ahmed belonged to the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry.
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“However, he was recently posted in Siliguri (north Bengal),” Mr Birdi told
Ahmed is the latest of suspected ISI agents arrested from West Bengal. Another person, Lalit Das (50) was also arrested from Siliguri. While the State police could not confirm or deny if he has any association with the IS, they said he “possibly” had some connections.
The trader from Assam was arrested on suspicion of having links with ULFA and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) as well.
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A large police contingent, headed by Additional Deputy Police Commissioner Mrinal Majumder and Assistant Commissioner Pinaki Majumder, raided Das’ house at Kabitirtha Sarani in the city midnight the previous day, the officials said.
The raid lasted for two hours and Das was taken to Siliguri police station for further interrogation. However, no arms or documents were recovered.
Since November 14, the Special Task Force (STF) of the State police has arrested five other alleged ISI operatives from Kolkata after they arrested Akhtar Khan, who used to work as a bartender.
Eventually the STF arrested Akhtar’s brother Zafar Khan.
Following many rounds of interrogation, Irshad Ansari, his son Asfaq Ansari and close relative (maternal uncle) Jahangir Khan Mohammad Jahangir were arrested for their alleged role in leaking information to the ISI.
Asfaq Ansari is a leader of the Trinamool Congress’ student wing in a local college in the port area in the western edge of the city. He became the general secretary of the TMC union in 2012 when the college switched from the CPI(M)’s Students’ Federation of India to TMC’s union. His father, Irshad Ansari, is a small-time labour leader at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and was associated with the TMC, police sources claimed. However, the TMC has denied having any association with the arrested men.