The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) arrested a suspected Pakistani national along the India-Bangladesh border in Bongaon early Wednesday morning. Rana Rouf was allegedly living in India under the assumed name Wahab Alam using forged identification documents, the STF said.
Investigators suspect Rouf of having long-standing links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and of being involved in espionage and terror-related activities. According to STF sources, Rouf is originally a resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan. He allegedly entered India via Nepal in 2012 before settling in West Bengal.
During the search operation, officers seized sensitive materials, including photographs of railway stations, train movements, and tracks across the country, as well as documents related to the Indian Army.
Investigators found that Rouf had transmitted these images to multiple phone numbers. The STF is currently tracking those contacts to ascertain their identities and determine whether financial transactions were made in exchange for the intelligence.
Investigators are also looking into Rouf ’s contacts within West Bengal and trying to identify who was scheduled to receive him across the border in Bangladesh.
During interrogation, Rouf disclosed that a carpenter residing in Kolkata’s Topsia neighbourhood had helped him procure fraudulent Indian documents, including a voter card and an Aadhaar card. The duo had reportedly met in Nepal prior to Rouf entering India.
Following Rouf’s confession, the STF arrested the carpenter, who is currently undergoing interrogation to identify other potential members of the network.
STF sources said that Rouf attempted to flee to Bangladesh after learning of the carpenter’s recent arrest on terror-related suspicions. Acting on a specific tip-off regarding his escape plan, the STF launched a targeted search in Bongaon early Wednesday, resulting in his capture. Preliminary investigations suggest Rouf maintained contact with the ISI for several years, allegedly leaking critical information regarding senior Indian officials.
The arrest comes amid a series of high-profile crackdowns by the state STF. Recently, the police arrested Hamim Mondal, a suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) associate, from a residential township in Burdwan for allegedly tracking the movements of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The operation subsequently led to the arrests of Mondal’s associate Arpita Sarkar in Jharkhand and Aditya Singh, a college student from Howrah accused of supplying information to Mondal.
On Wednesday, the STF said that Rouf was not linked to Mondal.
Meanwhile, minister Agnimitra Paul said, “Our administration is working to address issues left by the previous government, which allowed illegal infiltration for electoral gains. It will take time to address these deep-rooted networks completely. Sleeper cells are present, and we urge all citizens to remain vigilant.”
Tanusree Bose is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Kolkata. Her work focuses sharply on the complex administrative, political, and judicial developments across West Bengal, establishing her as an authoritative voice in regional news coverage. Experience Current Role: Reports for the prestigious national daily, The Indian Express, providing her content with a high level of Trustworthiness. Geographical Expertise: Provides focused, in-depth coverage of West Bengal, demonstrating an intimate knowledge of the state's news and political nuances. Core Authority: Her reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial, often sensitive, beats, including: State Politics and Governance: Covering the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), opposition strategies (BJP), and internal political controversies. Judicial and Administrative Affairs: Closely monitoring key developments in the Calcutta High Court, particularly major rulings related to employment, education, and social issues. Education Sector: Extensive reporting on significant controversies, such as teacher recruitment irregularities and administrative actions by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE). Social & Electoral Issues: Covering public events, community tensions (e.g., religious/political gatherings), and election-related processes like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll. Tanusree Bose's consistent output and focus on high-stakes regional issues for a trusted media outlet underscore her status as a reliable and authoritative source for news from West Bengal. ... Read More
