The Special Task Force (STF) of the West Bengal Police has arrested two individuals from Purba Bardhaman on suspicion of allegedly passing on information to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The arrests, made late Saturday night, followed a search operation across two locations in Bardhaman.

The accused, identified as Mukesh Rajak and Rakesh Kumar Gupta, were produced before a Kolkata court on Monday, where the judge remanded them to STF custody for seven days. Investigators initially allegedly found that both individuals have links with Pakistan’s spy agency.

According to STF sources, Mukesh Rajak is a resident of Canal Road, Panagarh, and is reportedly associated with a voluntary organisation in Memari. Rakesh Kumar Gupta is said to be a resident of Bhabanipur, Kolkata, who allegedly operated as a spy under the guise of working for the same organisation.

Investigators believe the espionage operation involved the sharing of mobile SIM card One-Time Passwords (OTPs) in exchange for money, facilitating the clandestine transfer of information. Both individuals reportedly lived in rented houses in different parts of Bardhaman.

The arrests came after the State Police STF received “a tip-off from a secret source”. Rajak was apprehended from a nursing home where he was undergoing treatment, while Rakesh Kumar Gupta was arrested from a rented house in Memari.

Officials are now trying to uncover more information through interrogations.