The Punjab Police on Wednesday claimed to have busted a cross-border espionage community with the arrest of two individuals on the cost of spying for the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan.
According to an official assertion, State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar arrested Zaffar Riaz and his affiliate Mohd. Shamshad from Amritsar.
While Riaz was a resident of Kolkata in West Bengal, Shamshad is a local of Madhuban in Bihar, however was residing in Amristar’s Mirakot Chowk for the final 20 years, the assertion mentioned.
To break the nexus of Pakistan’s ISI and “traitorous persons” supplying categorised data to compromise the sovereignty, integrity and safety of the state, Punjab Police has busted a cross border espionage community, the assertion mentioned.
During preliminary investigation, it got here to gentle that Riaz obtained married to Pakistan nationwide Rabia, a resident of Model Town in Lahore, Pakistan.
Initially, Rabia stayed with Riaz in Kolkata however after his accident in 2012, he turned financially weak and shifted to Lahore on the insistence of his in-laws.
Riaz continuously travelled to India for therapy, it mentioned.
“During this period, he got in touch with a Pakistan Intelligence Officer (PIO) Awais who claimed to be working in Foreigner’s Registration Office, Lahore,” the assertion mentioned.
The accused was lured by Awais to work for the ISI and through his visits to India, he started clicking images and capturing movies of Indian Army buildings and sharing them by way of encrypted apps.
During preliminary inspection of his cell phone, the images and movies had been discovered, mentioned the assertion.
Riaz revealed that on the insistence of Awais, he launched Shamshad to him.
“Shamshad revealed that he is living in Amritsar for the last 20 years and runs a lemonade cart opposite Amritsar railway station,” the assertion mentioned.
He clicked images of the Air Force station and Cantt space of Amritsar and shared them with Riaz who forwarded them to Awais, it added.
A case dated was registered on Wednesday beneath the provisions of the Official Secrets Act, and part 120 B (prison conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the SSOC Police Station, Amritsar.
Riaz and Shamshad shall be produced earlier than a court docket and their police remand shall be sought, mentioned the assertion.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”