Three suspected spies including retired IAF official arrested
Tezpur Police on Saturday arrested Kulendra Sharma, a resident of Patiachuburi district, on charges of spying for Pakistani agencies.
A senior police officer, who did not wish to be named, said, “Sharma served as a Petty Officer at the Indian Air Force base at Salonibari in Tezpur before his retirement in 2002. He served at the Tezpur Air Force Station before his retirement in 2002. After his retirement, he worked at Tezpur University.”
The officer said that Sharma allegedly shared sensitive documents and information with Pakistan-based processors through social media platforms.
Sonitpur Superintendent of Police Barun Purakayastha said that Sharma was arrested following intelligence information and will be produced in the Tezpur court on Sunday. “Electronic devices were seized during the arrest. Initial findings indicate that information was exchanged with Pakistani intelligence officers.”
Purakayastha said some data appeared to have been deleted. A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Arunachal Pradesh Police arrested two more suspected spies on Saturday; Hilal Ahmed from West Xiang district and Ghulam Mohammad Mir from Changlang district are natives of Jammu and Kashmir. A police officer said they were part of a network that shared information through a Telegram channel linked to Pakistani administrators. “They shared details of army movements, locations of defense camps”.
Recently Arunachal police arrested two spies with Pakistan links. Arunachal Pradesh Police arrested two more persons from Jammu and Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Malik and Sabir Ahmed Mir, both residents of Kupwara district. They were selling warm clothing in the area.
Police said these people had all valid documents such as Inner Line Permit (ILP).
Arunachal Pradesh has international borders with China, Bhutan and Myanmar.
According to the FIR filed at Chimpu police station, the first accused, Nazir Ahmad Malik from Kupwara district, was arrested from a rented house in Ganga village near here on November 22 after police received ‘credible and actionable’ intelligence inputs.
Investigators also allege that Malik disclosed that he had received instructions to plant explosives and commit arson targeting security agencies. Two mobile phones seized from him reportedly contained digital traces linking him to a Telegram channel called “Al AQSA”, identified by police sources as a channel for the transmission of security-related information.
Acting on Malik’s statements, the police arrested the second accused, Sabir Ahmed Mir, also from Kupwara, Abotani Colony.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Chukhu Apa confirmed the arrests but refused to disclose further details, citing the sensitivity of the case.
