An alleged ISI spy has been arrested for passing information to an officer of
the Pakistani intelligence agency about the just-concluded IAF exercise 'Iron
Fist' in Pokhran.
Sumaar Khan, a computer expert who is around 35 years of age, was taken into
custody by a team of Rajasthan police from his house in Pokhran area in
Jaisalmer district yesterday after he was caught spying for Inter-Services
Intelligence, Additional DGP (Intelligence)-Raj, Dalpat Singh Dinkar, said in
Jaipur.
"He was sharing information with an officer of a unit of ISI in a coded
language. He was under observation for some time and was also being monitored on
February 22 when the IAF exercise was going on," he said.
Sumaar, who was allegedly trained in spying by the ISI in Pakistan last year,
was served a notice under section 8 of Official Secrets Act and was questioned
yesterday. Later, he was placed under arrest and was brought to Jaipur for joint
interrogation by intelligence agencies today, Dinkar said.
Sumaar, who was arrested under sections 3 and 3/9 of the Official Secrets Act,
was produced before a local court in Jaipur today where the magistrate remanded
him in police custody for eight days.
Dinkar claimed that Summar confessed to have passed various important
information about defence installation in the Western Sector in coded language
through different mobile numbers and Internet.
"He visited Pakistan in October-November last year where he came in contact
with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) through his maternal uncle Shah Mohammad
who lives in Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan," the officer said.
SP Jaisalmer Pankaj Kumar Chaudhary said that following interception of his
calls to Pakistan, Sumaar, an Indian national, was caught from his home
yesterday morning.
A 10th class passout, Sumaar is an expert in computers, and would talk to his
uncle over phone in code words.
He is believed to have passed on maps and other documents pertaining to defence
establishments in the western sector to his handlers in Pakistan.
Some documents and evidence were also seized from his house.
Information about the IAF's day-night exercise 'Iron Fist' at Pokhran firing
ranges was the latest inputs he shared with the ISI.
The exercise, in which the IAF demonstrated its full combat and fire power, was
witnessed by President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence
Minister A K Antony and difence attache of friendly countries on February 22.
Emerging story. Watch this space for updates as more details come in
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