Punjab Man Arrested for Alleged Espionage
A 34-year-old man from Punjab has been arrested in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, accused of leaking sensitive information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The suspect, Prakash Singh, also known as Badal, allegedly collected confidential data related to the Indian Army and shared it across the border in exchange for money.
Details of the Arrest
According to the Rajasthan CID Intelligence, Singh, a resident of Ferozepur, Punjab, was under surveillance and found to be communicating with ISI handlers via social media. He is accused of gathering strategically important confidential information from Rajasthan, Punjab, and Gujarat and transmitting it to Pakistan.
Key Points:
- Suspect: Prakash Singh, alias Badal, 34 years old.
- Location of Arrest: Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.
- Allegation: Leaking sensitive information to Pakistan's ISI.
- Motive: Monetary gains.
Investigation and Findings
Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Prafull Kumar stated that the arrest followed information received on November 27 about Singh's presence near the military establishment Sadhuwali in Sri Ganganagar. Preliminary investigations revealed that his mobile phone was in constant contact with foreign and Pakistani WhatsApp numbers.
Kumar also noted that this is the fourth arrest related to espionage in Rajasthan since Operation Sindoor. Interrogation has revealed further leads in the case.
Information Provided to ISI
Interrogation at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Sri Ganganagar indicated that Singh had been in contact with ISI since Operation Sindoor. He allegedly provided strategic details including:
- Information on Army vehicles.
- Details about military installations.
- Border topography.
- Information on bridges, roads, and railway lines.
- Details of new construction projects.
Aiding Covert Operations
In addition to spying on the Army, Singh allegedly assisted Pakistan in creating fake Indian WhatsApp accounts for covert operations. He provided OTPs generated from mobile numbers issued in the names of Indian citizens, which were then used to download WhatsApp with Indian numbers for espionage and other anti-national activities. He received payment for this assistance.
Further Investigation
Due to the gravity of the case, Singh has been transferred to the Central Interrogation Centre in Jaipur for further investigation. Multiple agencies are involved in the interrogation, and technical analysis of his mobile phone has corroborated the initial findings. A case has been registered against him at the Special Police Station, Jaipur, under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
