# Jharkhand Woman Arrested Over Encrypted App and Alleged Pakistan Honeytrap Link to Jaish Suspect, Sent to 13-Day Police Remand

> Arpita Sarkar, linked to Jaish operative Hamim Mandal, was arrested from Sahibganj in Jharkhand and produced before the East Bardhaman court, where the STF secured 13 days of remand citing an alleged honeytrap and her use of an encrypted messaging app.

**Type:** article · **Category:** West Bengal · **Published:** 2026-08-01 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/west-bengal/enkripteda-aipa-aura-kathita-hanitraipa-ki-jancha-men-jharkhand-se-giraphtara-huin-arpita-sarkar-adalata-ne-di-13-dina-ki-rimanda-12908 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Jaish e Mohammed, Arpita Sarkar, Hamim Mandal, STF, Honeytrap, Bardhaman, Terrorism

Jaish operative Hamim Mandal was already under arrest over suspected terror activities, and in a key development linked to that same investigation, his girlfriend Arpita Sarkar was arrested from Sahibganj in Jharkhand on Saturday. The arrest was carried out by the state police's Special Task Force, or STF. She was subsequently produced before the East Bardhaman district court under heavy security, with the entire court complex placed under the watch of central security forces. Investigators said a detailed examination of Hamim Mandal's mobile phone and digital data threw up crucial information about Sarkar, which led to her being taken into custody.

## Who is Arpita Sarkar?
According to the STF, Arpita Sarkar runs her own event management business and also works as a photographer. Investigators believe her profession brought her into regular contact with several influential and VVIP individuals, and all of these contacts are now being scrutinised closely. The investigation has also found that Sarkar allegedly used an encrypted messaging app called Element X on her iPhone 16 Pro. The app is built on the Matrix protocol, which allows both messages and video calls to be exchanged in an end-to-end secure manner. That is precisely why it has become crucial for investigators to establish exactly who Sarkar spoke to through the app, for what purpose, and what kind of contact it was.

## What are the allegations against Arpita Sarkar?
Based on its preliminary investigation, the STF claims that instructions and information linked to certain important individuals allegedly reached Sarkar from Pakistan through a honeytrap. However, this remains a claim for now, its veracity is yet to be confirmed, and it will still have to be proven in court. To dig deeper into the case and gather further evidence about the wider network, the STF sought 13 days of police remand from the court, which was granted. Investigators are simultaneously working to establish who else may be part of this network.

It is worth noting that all the claims mentioned above have been attributed to the investigating agencies. The probe is still underway, and the final call on the charges will rest with the court.

## What this means for you
This case does not directly touch an ordinary reader's wallet, but it does carry a security dimension worth knowing about.

- **Across India:** The arrest shows how terror networks are allegedly leaning on encrypted apps and personal relationships to gather sensitive information, which could prompt tighter monitoring by security agencies nationwide.
- **In West Bengal and Jharkhand:** Security has been stepped up around the Bardhaman court complex, and investigating agencies remain active in and around Sahibganj, so residents in these areas may see more questioning and investigative activity in the coming days.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who is Arpita Sarkar?
She is the girlfriend of Jaish operative Hamim Mandal, runs her own event management business and also works as a photographer.

### 2. When and from where was Arpita Sarkar arrested?
She was arrested on Saturday from Sahibganj in Jharkhand by the state police's Special Task Force.

### 3. Where was she produced after the arrest?
She was produced before the East Bardhaman district court under heavy security, with the entire complex monitored by central security forces.

### 4. What was found on her mobile phone?
Investigators found she allegedly used an encrypted messaging app called Element X, based on the Matrix protocol, on her iPhone 16 Pro.

### 5. What allegations does she face?
The STF claims information linked to important individuals allegedly reached her from Pakistan through a honeytrap, though this is yet to be proven in court.

### 6. What did the court order?
On the STF's request, the court granted 13 days of police remand for Arpita Sarkar.

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