Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 23
In the relentless drive to break the nexus of Pak ISI and perfidious armed forces personnel who supply sensitive information with the nefarious design to compromise sovereignty, integrity and security of the state, Punjab Police have busted a cross border espionage network.
In an intelligence led operation, State Special Operation Cell Amritsar has arrested a serving Indian Army Jawan, Krunal Kumar Baria of Dhamnod, Panchamahalas, Gujarat. He is presently serving with the Indian Army at Ferozepur Cantt. He has been in touch with various Pak ISI agents through social media apps. Taking advantage of his deployment in the IT Cell, he has been passing highly sensitive and classified information about the Army to his Pak-based handlers. In lieu of the information, he has been paid money by the Pak agencies.
During the preliminary investigations, it has come to light that accused came in touch with a lady Pakistan Intelligence Officer (PIO) namely Sidra Khan through Facebook in 2020. After connecting through Facebook and Messenger, they shifted to WhatsApp and other private messaging and calling apps. The accused was in touch with the PIO on her two Pak mobile nos. and one Indian no.
It has been revealed that the accused was allured by the PIO through her treacherous tricks to work for ISI as a result of which the accused shared many classified documents with her via encrypted apps. During preliminary inspection of his mobile phone, many classified documents have been found.
In this connection a case FIR No. 20 dated 24.10.2021 u/s 3, 4, 5, 9 Official Secrets Act, 120-B IPC, PS SSOC Amritsar has been registered. Army authorities have been appraised about the arrest. Investigations are being conducted to assess the actual amount of damage caused by the accused. It is also being ascertained if the accused was working alone or he has a team at his disposal. Accused has been formally arrested and will be produced in the court for police remand in due course.
During the past also, Punjab Police has busted similar espionage networks. On March 14, 2019, one Ram Kumar of New Dussehra colony, Nalwa road, Jalandhar, then posted at MES (Military Engineer service) Jalandhar Cantt, was apprehended for sharing classified information with Pak Intelligence agencies. In this regards a case was registered at PS SSOC, Amritsar.
Again, in January 2021, 04 Army personnel namely Manpreet Singh from Gurdaspur, Amritpal Singh, Lovejot Singh and Raman Kumar, all from Gurdaspur district were arrested who were sharing classified documents through pen drives. A case was registered in this regard.
Punjab police bust cross-border espionage network
{$excerpt:n}
