Pakistan Espionage network busted in Punjab's Amritsar

New Delhi, May 19: India Pakistan cross-border espionage network has been busted from Amritsar. Punjab police have arrested two individuals identified as Zaffar Riaz of Kolkata and his associate Mohd Shamshad of Bihar, on Wednesday (May 19).

 

 

 

 

According to the reports of Hindustan times, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) of Punjab police arrested Zaffar Riaz of Kolkata and his associate Mohd Shamshad of Bihar for allegedly providing information related to buildings of the Indian Army and Air Force to a Pakistan-based intelligence officer. According to the Punjab police, Zaffar had shifted to Lahore in 2012 while Shamshad has been residing in Amritsar for the last 20 years.

 

 

 

 

 

According to their press release, the police said during the preliminary investigation, it came to light that in 2005, Zaffar got married to a Pakistan national Rabia. Initially, Rabia stayed with him in Kolkata but after his accident in 2012, his financial condition deteriorated and on his in-laws’ request, he shifted to Lahore. Zaffar frequently travelled to India on the pretext of his treatment. During this period, he got in touch with a Pakistan intelligence officer, Awais, who claimed to be working in the foreigner regional registration office in Lahore. Awais allured Zaffar to work for Pakistan intelligence agency ISI.

 

 

During interrogation, Zaffar said he also introduced his friend Shamshad to Awais. Shamshad runs a lemonade cart opposite Amritsar railway station. Shamshad admitted that he also clicked and shared photographs of air force station and cantonment area of Amritsar with Zaffar multiple times. A case under Sections 3, 4, 5, 9 of the Official Secrets Act and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered at the SSOC Amritsar police station.