The Delhi Police busted an espionage racket involving a BSF personnel and a Pakistani intelligence operative who were passing on information pertaining to India's national security to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The duo, believed to be relatives, have been arrested.
The duo, identified as Kafaitullah Khan alias Master Raja, 44, and Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Abdul Rasheed, have been arrested. Three other suspected ISI agents were also arrested from Kolkata on Sunday.
"Khan is a handler of Pakistani intelligence operatives, and Rasheed was one of his chief sources. They were running an espionage racket which was supported by Pakistan's ISI," IANS quoted Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav as saying.
The Delhi Police has reportedly arrested the BSF jawan and Khan after receiving "a tip-off about anti-national activities sponsored by the Pakistan ISI" from their (police) "civilian handlers and some security force personnel".
Khan is a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, while Rasheed was posted with the BSF intelligence wing in the same district. While Khan was arrested on 26 November from New Delhi station, Rasheed was nabbed on Sunday.
"Khan had boarded a train from Jammu for Bhopal. He was apprehended from New Delhi Railway station and documents having implication on national security were recovered from his possession," The Indian Express quoted Yadav as saying.
"Both were arrested under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Official Secrets Act," Yadav said.
Khan, who was working as library assistant at a higher secondary school in Manjakote in Rajouri district, contacted people in the Indian Army. Khan is believed to be in contact with his younger brother who is in the Indian Army.
A retired Army havildar is also suspected to be in contact with Khan. "After their arrest, investigators are looking for a retired army havildar. Investigators are also likely to get in touch with Khan's brother," The Indian Express quoted its sources as saying.
Yadav said that Khan started working for the ISI sometime in 2013 and passed on secret information relating to the deployment of security forces and Indian Air Force operations. He sent the documents through email, WhatsApp and Viber, Yadav said.
"Khan had visited Pakistan in 2013 where he came in contact with an ISI agent and in lieu of monetary benefit, he agreed to provide secret information about the defence forces," Yadav said.
"Khan was given specific tasks by the Pakistan intelligence operative, mainly concerned with the deployment of security forces and air force operations. He was going to Bhopal to allegedly recruit more persons for the racket. Khan had roped in Rasheed into the network, luring him with a share of the commission he received from ISI agents. Police raided Rasheed's residence in Rajouri district and recovered more confidential documents," The Indian Express quoted Yadav as saying.
"He later cultivated his sources in the army and the BSF and they started passing on information to Pakistani intelligence operatives. The information was passed through email, WhatsApp and Viber," Yadav added.
(With inputs from IANS)
