West Bengal Stf Arrests Tmc Leader Brother Isi Spying Case

The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) has arrested Fazle Rabbi, the brother of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter‑Services Intelligence (ISI).

Rabbi, former Trinamool Congress Islampur block president Zakir Hossain’s brother, was picked up from Uttar Dinajpur late Thursday night. STF sources said his name surfaced during the interrogation of three men arrested earlier on espionage allegations.

Rabbi’s wife, Nur Nehar Begum, claimed he was framed. “He is being targeted because he is the brother of a senior Trinamool leader. This is political vendetta and nothing else,” she told the media.

The development follows a series of arrests linked to suspected terror activities over the past few weeks.

On Wednesday, the STF arrested Pradeep Basu, a software engineer from Delhi, on suspicion of being a Pakistani spy. A resident of Siliguri, he has been accused of hawala transactions, counterfeit currency smuggling, and supplying Indian SIM cards to Pakistan via Bangladesh. He was remanded to eight days’ police custody by a Dinhata court.

On the eve of Independence Day, three men—Mohammad Shafiqul Islam from Uttar Dinajpur, and Nur Nasiruddin Ali and Rashidul Haque from Cooch Behar—were arrested for allegedly using the Army Welfare Education Society’s name as a cover for their espionage activities. The STF claimed that Rabbi’s arrest was based on information provided by Mohammad Shafiqul Islam.

On July 31, Hamim Mondal was arrested from Renaissance Township in Burdwan. A day later, his girlfriend, Arpita Sarkar, was arrested from Jharkhand on August 1. On August 12, Pakistani national Rana Rauf, alias Wahab Alam, was arrested from Habra in North 24 Parganas over alleged terrorism links. STF sources said Rabbi was in contact with Rana Rauf.

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