From forged documents to alleged ISI links: Kolkata case explained

Kolkata: The West Bengal Police STF has arrested a suspected associate of alleged Pakistani intelligence operative Rana Rauf as investigators probe an alleged espionage network operating from Kolkata.

The West Bengal Police Special Task Force arrested Imran from a flat in Kolkata's Topsia area on Monday, according to a senior officer.

Investigators allege that Imran helped Rauf arrange documents to obtain an Indian passport using forged papers. Police are examining his alleged links with other people who may have been involved in the operation.

Rauf was arrested last week in Habra, North 24 Parganas, and is suspected by the STF of having links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

What investigators allege

According to the STF, Rauf is suspected to be originally from Faisalabad in Pakistan and allegedly entered India in 2012 using forged documents after spending several years in Nepal.

Investigators allege that he passed information concerning the Indian Army and railways to handlers in Pakistan. Police are also examining a Pakistani passport allegedly used by Rauf.

The STF said passport details have provided additional leads into his movements and alleged contacts.

The investigation is also examining whether Rauf was trying to secure an Indian passport before the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal.

Police suspect that Imran and others may have assisted him in preparing documents for the passport.

The STF is also investigating allegations that the wider group was attempting to establish sleeper cells with Kolkata as a base. These remain allegations under investigation and have not been established in court.

More arrests possible

The STF believes several other people could be connected to the alleged network and is working to identify them.

Imran is being questioned about his alleged contacts with Rauf and other suspected members. Investigators are also examining documents and other material recovered during the probe.

The case is significant because investigators are looking beyond the alleged activities of one suspected operative to establish whether a wider support network helped with forged identities, travel documents and communications. The immediate focus is on identifying the alleged facilitators and determining whether the suspected network had any operational links to Pakistan-based handlers.