KOLKATA: The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) on Monday arrested a third associate of suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)-linked operative Hamim Mondal as part of its probe into an alleged Pakistan-backed terror module.According to police, the accused, identified as Aditya Singh, was arrested from Howrah after questioning Hamim Mondal and his woman friend. Aditya Singh allegedly worked as a local source for Mondal.Mondal, who was arrested from Burdwan last Thursday, allegedly remained in contact with Pakistan-based handlers through encrypted messaging platforms, STF officials said. Investigators found that he initially used platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram before shifting to more secure applications to evade detection.According to STF officers, Mondal first communicated with his handlers through the now-banned encrypted platform Element X and later moved to Session, another end-to-end encrypted messaging app. Officials said he used coded phrases, including “LMN 10” and “How’s the Josh”, to allegedly refer to the movement of funds and people.The Centre had blocked 14 encrypted messaging applications, including Element X, in May 2023 under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. Following the ban, Mondal reportedly switched to Session, which was not among the blocked apps but has been under scrutiny by security agencies due to its privacy-focused features.Investigators suspect that Mondal was linked to the Shahzad Bhatti group, which officials allege has backing from Pakistan’s ISI and involvement in organised crime, online radicalisation, recruitment and terror-related activities.Sources said Mondal’s handlers had advised him to remain cautious after the arrest of at least six members of the group in Delhi earlier this year.The STF is currently examining nearly four years of Mondal’s digital communications across various platforms to identify other members of the alleged network and gather evidence. Officials said the encrypted chats recovered during the probe indicate his involvement in activities linked to the Bhatti gang.
