The Rajasthan Police’s intelligence unit arrested a 22-year-old man on Sunday on suspicion of being a Pakistani spy and providing Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) with sensitive information regarding the Bikaner border region.
A 22-year-old young man from Rajasthan named Narendra Kumar was allegedly tricked using social media by two female Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) spies from Pakistan. He disclosed sensitive data about Indian Territory near the border with other countries, such as locations of BSF posts, bridges, roads, and forbidden areas captured on camera and also in videos. Following the technical analysis of Kumar’s cell phone, he was quickly placed under arrest and charged under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
Source: ABP News
According to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) S Sengathir, The intelligence wing continuously keeps an eye on the ISI’s operations in the border regions. It was found during this surveillance that Narendra Kumar, 22, used social media to communicate with the two female agents of the Pakistani spy agency on a regular basis. “It seems they had him honey trapped” – he stated.
Narendra Kumar, a resident of Anandgarh Khajuwala in Bikaner, close to the international border between India and Pakistan, and a bike mechanic by nature. He was picked up right away on Sunday and taken to the Joint Interrogation Centre in Jaipur. During interrogation, he disclosed that approximately two years before, he had interacted with two different female Facebook accounts run by “Poonam Bajwa” and “Sunita”.
Poonam, who falsely claimed herself as a native of Bathinda in Punjab, and she was employed by BSF as a data entry operator. Sengathir stated that Poonam made friends with Kumar and used the promise of marriage to entice him to disclose private information about the border region. After sharing Narendra Kumar with a WhatsApp number, Poonam asked him to provide sensitive information about Indian territory near the Indo-Pak international border, including pictures of army vehicles, towers, bridges, BSF posts, and roads.
According to ADG Intelligence, Narendra Kumar had a long-term relationship with another female also who works for Pakistani spy agency – Sunita. She pretended to be a local journalist for National newspaper in order to gain Narendra Kumar’s friendship. She also desired that Narendra Kumar share private information with her. He also shared with Sunita all access to this information. By cyber security and technical analysis of Kumar’s cell phone, police had found that he shared strategic sensitive information to both of them.
Sengathir also stated that while under surveillance, it was discovered that accused Narendra Kumar was using social media to communicate with these female agents and exchange information about the international border region. The young people living near borders are the target of Pakistani female spies who create social media profiles using Indian phone numbers.
During further investigation by multiple Jaipur agencies, the accused admitted to communicating with a Facebook account run under the name “Poonam Bajwa” for a period of two years. Upon request from the Pakistani female agent, other spies’ residents of border areas were also added to the WhatsApp group that she had created.
Following the confirmation of the facts through an inspection over the accused’s cell phone, the case was filed against him and he has been taken into custody.
ADG also quoted that it is the duty of every Indian citizen to be more vigilant than ever. All should use social media responsibly. The security agencies of our nation become very much concerned about cyber security and asked us to be cautious when an unknown person befriends without revealing their identity. Do not exchange the mobile number or OTP, or share critical security-related information with them at any cause. Be vigilant and be a responsible citizen.