In Punjab, the Military Intelligence unit and the State Special Operations Cell in a joint operation busted an ISI-sponsored espionage ring by arresting Ravi Kumar, a resident of Dhaleke village in Moga district. He was working as a spy for Pakistani intelligence agencies.
It has been learnt that photographs of vital installations and movements of Army vehicles, handmade maps of restricted areas, photocopies of restricted training manuals of the Army and information regarding Army attack formations were recovered from his possession.
The police have registered the case against Ravi Kumar under various sections of IPC yesterday. According to police, the preliminary interrogation has revealed that he was recruited by a Pakistani official of the ISI through Facebook about seven months ago and he was providing them information including movement of Army units, construction of new bunkers on the Indian side of the border and Army exercises.
His ISI handlers had sponsored his visit to Dubai between 20th and 24th of last month where he was briefed about the tasks. It has also come to light that Pakistan-based agencies operate a large number of fake Facebook accounts in the name of young girls who actively try to befriend unemployed youth and retired, serving officials in the armed forces and subsequently allure them into espionage activities.
Investigations are being conducted to identify and track such fake accounts. Defence establishments are also being appraised regarding this new threat for necessary action at their end.
