Patna: Sitamarhi police on Wednesday arrested two suspects on inputs from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for allegedly being in touch with a Pakistan-based gangster through social media and plotting to carry out a major mob lynching-like incident in the country.The accused, identified as Mohd Akhlaq (29) and Mohd Arman (28), both residents of Takor village under Garha police station area, were arrested during a raid conducted by police in the village.According to police sources, the two were allegedly in contact with Pakistan-based gangster M Rana. They were also allegedly planning to flee to Delhi after carrying out anti-national activities. Acting on the intelligence input, police raided their village and arrested them before they could execute their alleged plans.Sitamarhi SP Amit Ranjan said police acted on a tip-off and apprehended the two suspects from Takor village. During the search, three mobile phones were recovered from their possession.The SP said preliminary investigation had revealed digital evidence linking the accused to suspicious social media groups, foreign mobile numbers and a suspected Pakistan-based network.He added that, based on the available digital evidence, prima facie evidence had emerged suggesting the accused were planning anti-national activities. The recovered electronic devices have been sent for forensic and technical examination, and a detailed investigation is underway.A case has been registered at Garha police station to investigate the role of other individuals allegedly associated with the network. Further legal action is being taken, the SP said.Police sources said the investigation also revealed that Akhlaq and Arman had been working at a sewing machine manufacturing factory in Gujarat and returned to Sitamarhi on June 14, 2026.Police suspect the two arrested men are linked to Mohd Ahad, who was arrested by a joint team of the NIA, Bihar STF and local police in Katihar district on July 13. Ahad, a resident of Musapur village under Kodha police station limits, is suspected of having links with a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation. Investigators suspect he was operating as a sleeper cell operative.According to investigators, Ahad was allegedly in touch with a Pakistan-based network through social media and was attempting to radicalise people in the Seemanchal region and build a network to carry out anti-India activities.The probe also revealed that Ahad was allegedly in contact with people linked to the network of Pakistan-based gangster Rana Hunain alias Rana Hussain and Shahzad Bhatti through WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms.