Nalbari, Sept 1: The Assam Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a 31-year-old Nalbari resident as a suspected operative of the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN), taking the number of people apprehended in the case to five. The arrest, however, has drawn strong denials from his family and neighbours, who have described Mrigen Haloi as “innocent” and urged investigators to conduct a fair and thorough probe.Haloi was apprehended from a rented house at Gauripur in Changsari, Kamrup, in the early hours of August 31, the STF said. He had reportedly been working at the Sagar Steel Processing and Manufacturing Unit. His arrest took the number of people apprehended in the ongoing SBN case to five. “In connection with STF P.S. Case No. 06/2026, STF, Assam apprehended Mrigen Saloi (31), a suspected operative linked to the Pakistan-based Shahzad Bhatti Network (SBN),” the agency said in a social media post. The STF said incriminating articles were seized from his possession and that its investigation had revealed his contacts with several Pakistan-based individuals suspected to be associated with the network. “Investigation has revealed his contacts with several Pakistan-based individuals suspected to be associated with SBN,” the post further added. Haloi’s family, however, rejected the allegations and urged investigators to conduct a fair and detailed probe. His mother said she had spoken to him on Sunday morning and was unaware of anything that could connect him to the allegations. “I would have known if he had done anything wrong, but he wasn’t involved in anything as such,” she said. According to her, Haloi had failed his Class 10 examination and later gone to Amingaon in search of work. He had initially planned to return home in August but later told the family he would return after receiving his salary. Another family member urged investigators to examine his phone records and ascertain whether someone else could have used his phone. “There could be chances where his phone has been used by someone else to make certain phone calls,” the family member said. Neighbours echoed the family's account. One neighbour alleged that someone may have conspired against him and appealed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the DGP to ensure a proper investigation. The latest arrest followed four earlier apprehensions in the case. On July 25, the STF arrested Akramul Islam of Dhubri, Aminur Rahman of Chirang and Abdul Hussain of Barpeta, while Fazal Islam Barbhuiyan was apprehended from Hailakandi's Ramnathpur on August 26 based on leads from the earlier investigation.The STF has said the probe is aimed at uncovering the wider network and its suspected activities in Assam.