Have Army Personnel and Aide Been Arrested for Espionage Tied to Pakistan's ISI?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two individuals arrested for alleged espionage activities linked to Pakistan's ISI.
- Use of sophisticated communication methods involving virtual numbers.
- Financial compensation received through a complex network to evade detection.
- Ongoing investigations to uncover the broader espionage network.
- Importance of national security highlighted in the case.
Chandigarh, June 22 (NationPress) Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced on Sunday that a significant counter-espionage initiative led to the arrest of an Indian Army personnel and his assistant by the Amritsar Rural Police. They are suspected of engaging in espionage activities linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The suspects have been named as Gurpreet Singh, also known as Gopy Foji, and his accomplice Sahil Masih, also referred to as Shali, both hailing from Dhariwal in Amritsar.
Gurpreet Singh is presently stationed in Jammu.
DGP Yadav stated that initial investigations suggest that Gurpreet Singh maintained direct communication with ISI agents and is believed to have disseminated sensitive and classified information using pen drives.
The principal ISI operative identified in this case is Rana Javed.
The DGP confirmed that two mobile devices featuring virtual numbers, allegedly utilized for communication with ISI operatives, were seized from both suspects.
Ongoing investigations aim to dismantle the extensive espionage-terror network and pinpoint all collaborators involved, he added.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Amritsar Rural), Maninder Singh, explained that Gurpreet Singh joined the Army in 2016 and systematically misused his official position to gather, store, and transmit classified military data through pen drives and discs.
The espionage scheme was reportedly facilitated by an acquaintance named Arjan, a Dubai-based drug trafficker from Dhariwal, who introduced Gurpreet to ISI operatives about five months ago. Since then, Gurpreet Singh has actively participated in unauthorized collection and transmission of sensitive military information to the ISI using predetermined drop-off points.
The Senior Superintendent of Police disclosed that in return for this espionage activity, Gurpreet Singh received financial compensation through a sophisticated web of intermediary bank accounts belonging to friends, relatives, and foreign associates to avoid detection.
In a strategically planned operation, police teams apprehended the duo while they were in the process of transferring sensitive information.
He noted that further inquiries are ongoing to uncover the broader conspiracy and to identify additional accomplices, both within the country and abroad.
A case has been registered under Sections 3, 5, and 9 of the Official Secrets Act and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the police station in Lopoke, Amritsar district.