In a significant counter-intelligence operation, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has dismantled an espionage network with alleged links to Pakistan, leading to the arrest of two individuals. The arrests include a former Subedar of the Indian Army and a woman, both accused of transmitting sensitive and classified information to handlers across the border.
Details of the Espionage Network and Arrests
The male accused has been identified as A K Singh, a retired Subedar who was residing in Goa. The female suspect is Rashmani Pal, who was living in Daman. According to officials, the duo was in direct contact with Pakistan-based intelligence operatives. The Gujarat ATS, acting on specific intelligence, apprehended them for their alleged role in passing on classified information, posing a serious threat to national security.
Connection to Earlier Grenade Smuggling Case
This espionage bust follows another major operation by the Gujarat ATS in November. Earlier, the squad had arrested a man named Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi Billa, from Halol town in Panchmahal district. He was wanted by the Punjab Police in a case involving the smuggling of arms and grenades for a terror module.
That probe revealed that key accused Manu Agwan and Maninder Billa, currently based in Malaysia, were recruiting operatives in Punjab on the instructions of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Their goal was to carry out grenade attacks in crowded areas across Punjab and other Indian states. Gurpreet Singh's alleged role was to smuggle two grenades and two pistols as part of this conspiracy.
Interrogation and Broader Conspiracy
During the interrogation of previously arrested individuals, Punjab Police uncovered Singh's involvement. An ATS team subsequently located him working as a labourer in a Halol factory. He was detained from a hotel and, during questioning, admitted to his role in the grenade-attack plot. The investigation underscores a pattern of cross-border attempts to destabilize India through espionage and coordinated terror plans.
The recent arrests of the ex-Army personnel and his associate highlight the ongoing vigilance of Indian security agencies against espionage networks and their foreign handlers. These operations demonstrate a continued effort to neutralize threats emanating from across the border and safeguard national security interests.
