ITANAGAR, Dec 23: Arunachal Pradesh Police have arrested two more men from Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district for allegedly spying and collecting sensitive information for handlers based in Pakistan, officials said on Monday.
The accused have been identified as Aijaz Ahmed Bhat and Bashir Ahmad Ganai. With their arrest, the total number of accused held in the espionage case has increased to five.
Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Chukhu Apa said the arrests were made on December 18 and the accused were brought to Arunachal Pradesh from Kupwara. “They are currently in police custody. With these arrests, the total number of accused in the case has risen to five,” he told reporters.
According to the police, preliminary investigations suggest the accused were collecting sensitive information from various parts of Arunachal Pradesh and sharing it with handlers across the border in Pakistan. The IGP said forensic analysis is awaited to corroborate digital evidence.
“We are waiting for the forensic report. Preliminary investigation has revealed that they were sharing sensitive information with handlers outside the country. The investigation is ongoing and further details will emerge as it progresses,” Apa said.
Earlier, on November 21, Arunachal Pradesh Police had arrested Nazir Ahmad Malik and Sabir Ahmed Mir, both residents of Kupwara district, following credible intelligence inputs regarding espionage activities. Subsequently, another accused, Shabir Ahmed Khan, also from Kupwara, was arrested from the Itanagar Capital Region.
The IGP said the arrests followed sustained intelligence gathering on a suspected spy network operating in the state. “Under the leadership of Itanagar SP Jummar Basar, the police team worked on credible intelligence and made these arrests. Two accused were apprehended in Kupwara, while three were arrested from different locations within the Itanagar Capital Region,” he said.
According to the police, the accused posed as blanket sellers and travelled to different parts of Arunachal Pradesh to collect information.
The IGP also urged residents to remain vigilant and verify credentials before renting out accommodation. “I appeal to the people of Itanagar to verify documents with the police before allowing anyone to stay in their homes. Failure to do so can lead to serious problems,” he said.