West Bengal arrests Jaish-e-Mohammad suspect linked to plot against chief minister

The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) seized a suspect in Bhadra district identified as Hamid Mandal, alleged to be a member of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad. Investigators say Mandal was planning an assassination of the state chief minister, Shubendu Ahir, and possessed documents related to the chief minister's movements and VIP routes. The operation took place at a rented flat in the Renesion housing area, where the suspect had been staying under an alias for several months. Authorities recovered confidential papers and are interrogating the suspect to uncover any wider network, including possible links to the Sajjad Bhatt module in Jammu‑Kashmir. The STF has launched a joint inquiry and continues to pursue further connections to the plot.