Uttar Pradesh has alerted the Union Home and Defence Ministries about tip-offs that Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence has established a network in western U.P.
In a letter written to the Ministry, a copy of which is with The Hindu , Devashish Panda, Principal Secretary, Home, expressed concern about certain youths of the region being “in touch” with the Pakistani agency.
The issue grabbed headlines after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had, in the aftermath of the Muzaffarnagar riots, expressed concern about the ISI’s conspiracy to indoctrinate the youth of the sensitive region.
Apprehending that cases of espionage were “gradually increasing”, the Principal Secretary wrote to the Home Ministry seeking permission to act under provisions of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
While the letter talked about Muslim youths being “in touch” with the ISI, it highlighted just the one case — of Asif, a resident of Meerut who was arrested on June 16, 2014 — to substantiate its claim. Mr. Panda observed that besides the alleged ISI agent Asif, former Indian Army officers Madan Mohan Pal and Patan Kumar Poddar were also working for the ISI. The letter declared Asif as being the “main handler”, who used to give money to the Army officers to get information from them. The letter claimed that Sunil Kumar, a resident of Kangra in Himachal Pradesh, was also assisting Asif.
The letter alleged that Asif was in touch with an ISI officer named Zahid who had allegedly given him a Pakistani debit card, which Asif used to withdraw money in India. But the letter did not explain how a Pakistani debit card could be used to withdraw money from banks in India.
“The Special Task Force [STF] and Army Intelligence is getting information from various sources that a few Muslim youths of western U.P. are in touch with the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI. They are supplying sensitive documents, maps of Army locations to the ISI,” Mr. Panda said in the letter.
The government has asked the STF to search for sleeper modules and ISI agents functioning in the region.
Alok Sharma, Inspector-General of Police, Meerut zone, said the police and intelligence agencies were being “extra cautious” in view of Republic Day and maintaining a “strict vigil.”
U.P. Principal Secretary seeks Home Ministry nod for action under Official Secrets Act
