Here's The Inside Story Of How Delhi Police Nabbed Pakistani Diplomat For Running Espionage Racket

The security agencies left no stone unturned while investigating the case of Pakistani diplomat, nabbed for allegedly running a espionage racket in the garb of representing Pakistan on Indian soil. The accused, Mehmood Akhtar 每 who was declared persona non grata - was on security agencies' radar for the past 18 months after the arrest of 44-year-old Kafaitullah Khan alias Master Raja, a librarian in a higher secondary school in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

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According to sources, he was intercepted and arrested from New Delhi railway station while he was going to attend an ijtema (a religious gathering) in Bhopal, where he was allegedly supposed to gather secret information and meet possible recruits.

Security agencies came to know about Akhtar during the Khan's interrogation. Surveillance was mounted on the Pakistani High Commission's official to know who the people are in his contact. Khan and Akhtar were in touch for procuring classified documents pertaining to India's national security, particularly deployment and movement of armed forces.

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Soon after Khan was nabbed last year, five suspected ISI operative 每 including a Border Security Force (BSF) constable Abdur Rasheed 每 were held the same month on charges of providing confidential information to a Pakistan intelligence operative.

They were former Army Havildar Munawwar Ahmad Mir, a school teacher from Rajaori district Sabar and Fareed 每 code named 'Surgeon' 每 who was posted in the J&K light infantry regiment. All of them are said to be relatives.

The suspicion, according to sources, about the possible involvement of a Pakistani diplomat had emerged in the last espionage operation in which the five suspects were arrested from different places.

PTI

Intelligence sources said the agency had started trailing the three suspects six months ago through technical surveillance.

The agency had crucial transcripts of more than a hundred hours of telephonic conversations. They also kept a watch on their movements. After getting inputs from intelligence agencies about the espionage ring, the Crime Branch men finally launched a 12-hour-long operation and spent six hours on the field.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung were informed and a go ahead was obtained.

A control room was set up at Delhi Police headquarters at around 1 pm and Joint Commissioner Ravindra Yadav was put in charge. After planning for around four hours, three teams were formed.

A team of select officers was formed. Around 4 am, ACP Sanjay Sehrawat's team was sent to Delhi Zoo, where the suspects were supposed to meet up. The other team led by Inspector Sunil was sent to New Delhi railway station where two men 每 Maulana Ramzan (55) and Sohaib Nagaur (35) 每 were supposed to arrive from Rajasthan.

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The third team relayed information to the other two from the control room.

Sehrawat took position at the zoo gate. The Zoo guard mistook him for a stalker trying to harass a couple sitting on a bench and asked the ACP to go away. The guard said the Zoo was closed and even warned him of bird flu. When he came after the ACP with a lathi, a sub-inspector was called to handle the situation.

The team's wait ended when Akhtar came in the Embassy vehicle and met the two men. The cops then nabbed the trio and took them to their Chanakyapuri office.

Vital information/documents related to deployment of army and para military forces in Rajasthan and Gujarat having serious implications on national security have allegedly been recovered from their possession.

Also Read: Spying Row: Pakistan High Commission Official Asked To Leave India, Two Others Held