New Delhi: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan has been arrested and remanded to National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody on charges of spying for Pakistan.
The personnel of India’s largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) has been accused of passing sensitive information relating to national security to Pakistani agents in exchange for money. The CRPF is engaged in counter-terrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir, along with the Army, local police and other security forces.
The arrested jawan was produced before a NIA court in New Delhi, which noted that the allegations “affect national security” and sent him to NIA custody till June 6.
The court also said that it is important to gather information about what kind of information the accused passed on to intelligence agencies in Pakistan. “The armed forces are the pillar on the basis of which the strength and security of the nation is measured and is dependent upon. Any attempt to violate it in such a manner which may lead to irreparable damage is an issue which requires investigation,” the court observed.
The constable was arrested under Sections 15 (pertaining to terror act), 16 (punishment for terror act), and 18 (punishment for conspiracy and related acts) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The development comes amid a crackdown on spies and informers who are said to have helped Pakistan with several critical details regarding vital installations in India. The large number of arrests reveal the extent of infiltration that Pakistani intelligence agencies have achieved within India.
Officials admit that had a major shake-up not taken place after the Pahalgam terror attack, most of these ‘spies’, who include social media influencers, students and traders would have remained untraced.
