Cooch Behar, Aug. 17 -- The Special Task Force (STF) of the state police has arrested another youth from Dinhata on suspicion of having links with Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), intensifying an ongoing investigation into an alleged espionage network operating
in the region.
The accused, identified as Mithu Rahman, was arrested from the Dighalatari area of Nazirhat in Dinhata-II block on Sunday night. He was produced before the Dinhata Subdivisional Court on Monday.
According to court sources, Rahman is accused of allegedly passing information to Pakistan and involvement in the circulation of counterfeit currency. His arrest is the latest in a series of operations by the STF in Dinhata.
Earlier, the STF arrested three youths - Rashidul, Nasiruddin and Saiful - from the Sahebganj area of Dinhata-II block. They were subsequently produced before the court and remanded in police custody for 14 days. Another youth, Rashidul Haque, from the Tharaikhana area of Dinhata, was also arrested in connection with the investigation.
The successive arrests have triggered considerable concern in Dinhata, particularly over the possible extent of the alleged network.
STF sources said investigators are now examining whether more people are involved and whether sensitive information was allegedly passed across the border through the accused.
Officers are also probing the suspected motive behind the activities and the possible geographical reach of the network. Officials have so far refrained from disclosing details that could hamper the investigation.
Meanwhile, Cooch Behar district BJP president Abhijit Barman criticised the Trinamool Congress over the arrests and raised concerns about the security situation in the area.
With another arrest in the case, investigators are now focusing on identifying possible additional members of the alleged network and determining the full extent of its activities.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.