West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a youth from Siliguri in Delhi for allegedly working for a network linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI. Police are investigating the alleged cross-border espionage and Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) network in connection with the arrest.
The West Bengal STF is investigating how the Siliguri resident allegedly came into contact with people linked to Pakistan and what activities were being carried out through him. The initial investigation has indicated a possible connection to an ISI-linked network involving fake Indian currency notes.
The STF had reportedly been monitoring the suspect’s activities for some time. After his location was traced to Delhi, the team conducted an operation and arrested him. He has since been questioned, while investigators are examining his mobile phone, contacts and other digital evidence.
Police are investigating whether the accused was limited to maintaining contacts or was actively working for the alleged network. Investigators are also collecting information about people who came into contact with him and examining whether he received money, instructions or other assistance from Pakistan-linked handlers.
The investigation is also examining why the accused was in Delhi and whom he was in contact with there. The STF is collecting records related to his stay and activities in the capital.
The fake Indian currency angle is also a key part of the investigation. According to a recent report, the STF suspects a link between the action against the Siliguri resident and an ISI-linked FICN, or Fake Indian Currency Notes, network. The investigation into such networks includes alleged activities involving the supply of counterfeit notes in India and their movement to different locations.
The agency may examine the accused’s bank transactions, mobile records, social media activity and other contacts to establish who was connected to him and the extent of the alleged network.
Siliguri and North Bengal are considered sensitive from a security perspective. The Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken Neck”, connects India’s northeastern states with the rest of the country. A report has also viewed the STF action in the context of a potential security threat linked to the sensitive region.
Police have not yet publicly clarified what sensitive information the arrested youth allegedly obtained or transmitted. He is therefore currently being treated as a suspected Pakistani spy or an accused allegedly linked to the ISI. The allegations against him will be established only through the investigation and legal process.
The STF’s investigation into alleged ISI-linked networks in West Bengal has been continuing, with several arrests made by the agency in recent days. The arrest of the Siliguri suspect in Delhi is being treated as the next step in the same investigation.
In August, the STF also arrested another person, Rana Rauf, who was allegedly linked to Pakistan.
Security agencies have also taken action against alleged Pakistan-linked networks in other parts of the country in recent months. Delhi Police reported the arrest of several members of an alleged ISI-linked module and the recovery of weapons in June-July 2026. These are separate cases, and no direct connection between them and the present case has yet been confirmed.
Following the arrest, the STF is questioning the accused to establish whether his activities were limited to him or whether a larger network was operating behind them.
The agency is also investigating whether the accused was in contact with a handler based in Pakistan or was receiving instructions through an intermediary in India. If digital and financial investigations produce sufficient evidence, further action under serious charges may follow.
The accused is currently in custody and being questioned as investigators examine his alleged contacts and activities. The investigation will determine his actual role and the extent of the alleged network.
