Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Andhra Pradesh Police have arrested two men in a suspected Pakistan-linked espionage case involving 18 suspects, including 13 naval personnel.
Police allege that the suspects collected classified information about defence establishments in Visakhapatnam and elsewhere in the country and shared it with Pakistan-based intelligence operatives through encrypted communication channels.
The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Cell conducted “Operation Firewall-2026” across 10 states and Union Territories on October 1 as part of the investigation.
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The arrested men were identified as Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver for naval employees in Visakhapatnam, and Pradeep Mukharjee, a naval employee.
Varaprasad was arrested in Visakhapatnam for allegedly sharing classified naval and defence information with a Pakistan-based intelligence operative in exchange for money. He was remanded to Visakhapatnam District Jail until October 14.
Mukharjee was arrested in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Police allege that he shared an OTP with a Pakistan-based operative to activate a WhatsApp account and also leaked defence information. He was remanded to Vijayawada District Jail until October 14.
The operation involved 12 Counter Intelligence Cell teams working with state anti-terrorism squads, naval officials and local police. Teams were deployed in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Goa, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh and Bihar.
The case was registered at the Counter Intelligence Police Station in Vijayawada on September 2 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Official Secrets Act.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
