In a significant counter-intelligence operation, the Rajasthan Police's Intelligence unit has apprehended a man suspected of spying for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrest, made on Monday from Jaipur, highlights ongoing security threats along the western border.
The Accused and His Alleged Espionage Network
The individual taken into custody has been identified as Prakash Singh, also known as Badal, aged 34. A resident of Firozpur in Punjab, Singh was allegedly operating as a daily wage labourer while secretly gathering critical information for Pakistani handlers. According to Inspector General of Police (Intelligence) Prafulla Kumar, Singh's primary role involved collecting sensitive strategic information about the Indian Army across the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Gujarat.
He is accused of relaying this intelligence to his ISI contacts. The information compromised included detailed data on military vehicle movements, the locations of key installations, and vital infrastructure such as bridges and railway lines. His espionage activities reportedly began following the period of Operation Sindoor, establishing a prolonged period of contact with the Pakistani agency.
How the Spy Ring Was Unmasked
The police surveillance and subsequent arrest were triggered by specific intelligence inputs received on November 27. These reports indicated Singh's suspicious presence near military establishments in the Sriganganagar district. Acting swiftly, the Intelligence border team detained him for questioning.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered concrete evidence of his communications. He was allegedly using WhatsApp to connect with foreign and Pakistani phone numbers. A more alarming discovery was his role in providing One-Time Passwords (OTPs) for mobile numbers registered in India. Inspector General of Police (Security) Vishnu Kant stated that these OTPs were misused by Pakistani agents to create WhatsApp accounts with Indian identities, thereby facilitating covert espionage activities under a local guise.
Officer Kant further revealed that Singh conducted reconnaissance of various sites, including Gurdwaras, and received payments for his services in small instalments, likely to avoid detection.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
Given the serious nature of the allegations, Singh was subjected to multi-agency interrogations at the Joint Interrogation Center in Sriganganagar. Due to the gravity of the charges, he was later transferred to the Central Interrogation Center in Jaipur for a more thorough investigation.
Upon confirmation of the initial findings, a formal case has been registered against Prakash Singh. The charges have been filed under the stringent Official Secrets Act of 1923 at the Special Police Station in Jaipur. This legal step underscores the severity with which the authorities are treating this breach of national security.
The arrest serves as a stark reminder of the persistent attempts by foreign agencies to compromise India's defence preparedness. It also highlights the evolving methods of espionage, which increasingly leverage common digital platforms like social media and messaging apps to orchestrate anti-national operations.
