- Two more suspects arrested from Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir
- Total arrests in Arunachal espionage case rise to five
- Accused allegedly collected sensitive data across Arunachal Pradesh
- Police urge citizens to verify tenants to prevent security threats
GG News Bureau
Itanagar, 23rd Dec: Arunachal Pradesh Police have arrested two more persons from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district for allegedly spying and collecting sensitive information for handlers based in Pakistan, officials said on Monday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Aijaz Ahmed Bhat and Bashir Ahmad Ganai. With these arrests, the total number of accused held in the espionage case has risen to five.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Chukhu Apa said the arrests were made on December 18 and the accused were brought to Arunachal Pradesh from Kupwara. “They are currently in police custody. With this, the total number of arrests in the case has increased to five,” he told reporters.
According to the police, preliminary investigations indicate that the accused were collecting sensitive information from different parts of Arunachal Pradesh and sharing it with handlers based in Pakistan. “We are awaiting forensic reports. Initial findings suggest that sensitive information was being transmitted to handlers across the border. The investigation is ongoing, and more details will emerge as it progresses,” the IGP said.
Earlier, on November 21, Itanagar police arrested Nazir Ahmad Malik and Sabir Ahmed Mir, both residents of Kupwara, following credible intelligence inputs about their involvement in espionage activities. Subsequently, another accused, Shabir Ahmed Khan, also from Kupwara, was arrested from the Itanagar Capital Region.
IGP Apa said intelligence inputs pointed to an organised spy ring operating in Arunachal Pradesh. “Under the leadership of Itanagar SP Jummar Basar, the police team worked diligently to dismantle this network. Two accused were arrested from Kupwara, while three were apprehended from different locations in the Itanagar Capital Region,” he said.
Police revealed that the arrested individuals were mostly blanket sellers who travelled extensively across the state, using their movement as a cover to collect information.
The IGP also appealed to residents to remain alert and cautious. “People should verify documents and conduct police verification before allowing anyone to stay in rented accommodations. Failure to do so can lead to serious consequences,” he warned.
Investigations into the espionage network are continuing, with authorities examining digital evidence and possible links to handlers outside the country.
