NIA Cracks Down on Pak ISI-Linked Espionage Ring, Arrests 3 More Accused
New Delhi: In a big development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested three more accused in the Pakistani ISI-linked Visakhapatnam espionage case, which involves the leakage of sensitive and classified Naval defence information.
The arrests, made on Tuesday with the assistance of local police, bring the total number of accused arrested in the case to eight. Two accused Vethan were picked up from Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka, while one was arrested from Kochi in Kerala.
According to NIA investigations, all three accused were in contact with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives (PIOs) through social media and were sharing sensitive information about Indian defence establishments at Karwar Naval Base and Kochi Naval Base. In exchange for the information, they were receiving money from PIOs.
The NIA has so far chargesheeted five persons, including two absconding Pakistani operatives, in the case. The chargesheeted accused include Pakistani national.
The case, originally registered by the Counter Intelligence Cell, Andhra Pradesh, in January 2021, was taken over by the NIA in June 2023. The anti-terror agency is continuing to probe the case to unravel the complete espionage conspiracy by Pak-based and other anti-national elements.
The arrests are a significant blow to the Pak ISI-linked espionage ring and a testament to the NIA’s efforts to crack down on anti-national activities. The agency’s investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are likely in the coming days.
