The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in coordination with state and central intelligence agencies, is probing the existence of a deeply entrenched local spy network in West Bengal. This investigation follows the arrest of an alleged Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operative from the outskirts of Kolkata.
Arrest of Zafar Riaz
The suspect, identified as Zafar Riaz, also known as Rizvi, is a prominent footwear merchant from Central Kolkata's Entally neighborhood. He is accused of passing sensitive military secrets to his Pakistani handlers. Riaz's deep roots in Kolkata form the centerpiece of the ongoing investigation.
Background and Family Ties
For decades, Riaz's family was well-established in Kolkata's traditional leather trade. Riaz himself owned and operated two shoe manufacturing factories in the Entally area. In 2005, he married Rabia, a resident of Lahore's Model Town, and lived with his wife in Entally until 2012.
Financial Distress and Recruitment
According to NIA findings, Riaz suffered an accident in 2012. The resulting health complications left him unable to manage his factories, triggering severe financial distress. To liquidate his assets, Riaz sold off his ancestral properties in Kolkata, sent his wife back to Lahore, and eventually traveled to Pakistan on a tourist visa to meet his in-laws. Investigators revealed that it was during this period that Riaz was recruited by the ISI through a Pakistani official named Awais. Leveraging his background as an Indian citizen with deep roots in Kolkata, his handlers instructed him to make frequent trips back to India under the guise of receiving medical treatments.
The NIA is now examining whether Riaz was part of a larger network operating in the region, with further investigations underway to uncover any additional operatives or connections.
