Terror suspect Hamim Mondal, arrested for his alleged links with a Pakistan-backed terror module, had allegedly planned to hire professional criminals to assassinate or abduct a "high-profile target" in West Bengal as part of a larger conspiracy to destabilise the state, according to sources in the Special Task Force (STF).
Investigators claim Hamim was planning to assign the killing to a jailed gangster believed to head an interstate criminal syndicate. The alleged plan is now under investigation by both the STF and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has also questioned Hamim and his associate Arpita Sarkar.
Jailed Gangster Allegedly Chosen for 'Supari' Killing
According to investigation sources, Hamim had informed his Pakistan-based handlers about the jailed gangster, whose profile was allegedly shared with the Shahzad Bhatti group, a Pakistan-based network accused of operating through local criminal syndicates.
The gangster is suspected to control an interstate network involving criminals from West Bengal and other states.
'High-Profile Target' Under Surveillance
STF officials suspect the intended target was a senior public figure in West Bengal. Investigators claim Hamim and several recruits were gathering detailed information on the individual's movements.
Encrypted chat records recovered from Hamim's mobile phone reportedly contain surveillance-related information concerning the target's routine and movements.
However, investigators are yet to confirm whether the jailed gangster was actually contacted or formally assigned the operation.
Dubai-Based Operatives Under Scanner
Sources said direct contact with the jailed gangster was allegedly expected to be established by Dubai-based operative Abid Jatt or another intermediary, with Hamim intentionally kept out of the communication chain to maintain secrecy.
Investigators also suspect that any payment for the alleged contract killing was planned through hawala channels. Authorities are expected to question the jailed gangster to determine whether any communication or agreement ever took place.
Pattern Similar to Previous Operations
According to investigators, using local criminal networks while remaining in the background is a known operational pattern of the Shahzad Bhatti group. Officials claim the network has previously used similar methods in Punjab to carry out targeted killings.
Investigators are now attempting to identify other political leaders and religious figures who may have been on the alleged target list. Security arrangements for potential targets are expected to be reassessed based on the findings.Sources said the security cover of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already been strengthened as a precautionary measure.
Officials believe the broader objective of the alleged Pakistan-backed module was to trigger large-scale unrest in the state through targeted assassinations and acts of sabotage. Investigators have also not ruled out the possibility that the Shahzad Bhatti network may have been working to establish parallel modules in West Bengal beyond Hamim Mondal's alleged network.
