Shared 900 papers linked to defence, national security

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 6

The Punjab Police today busted a major cross-border espionage network with the arrest of two Army personnel on charges of spying and providing classified documents to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan.

Those arrested have been identified as Sepoy Harpreet Singh (23) from Cheecha village in Amritsar and Sepoy Gurbhej Singh (23), a native of Punian village in Tarn Taran.

Harpreet, who was posted in Anantnag, joined the Army in 2017 and belonged to 19 Rashtriya Rifles, while Gurbhej belonged to 18 Sikh Light Infantry and was working as a clerk in Kargil. He had joined the Army in 2015.

DGP Dinkar Gupta said the Jalandhar (Rural) police led by SSP Naveen Singla, while investigating an NDPS case, recovered confidential documents related to the functioning and deployment of the Army from cross-border drug smuggler Ranvir Singh, who was arrested with 70 gm heroin on May 24.

He said during interrogation, Ranvir disclosed that he got the documents from Sepoy Harpreet Singh, a friend, as they both belonged to the same village. “Ranvir lured Harpreet with financial benefits for sharing defence documents, following which the latter induced his friend Gurbhej into spying activities,” he said, adding since Gurbhej was working as a clerk in 121 Infantry Brigade Headquarters in Kargil, he could get easy access to the classified documents containing both strategic and tactical information relating to the Army.

He said the two had already shared photos of over 900 classified documents — pertaining to defence and national security — to Ranvir over a period of four months between February and May. Ranvir had further passed those on to Pakistan intelligence officers.

The DGP said Ranvir used to send classified documents to either Pakistan ISI operatives directly or through Gopi, the main drug smuggler from Dauke village in Amritsar having links with Pakistan-based drug-smuggling syndicates and ISI officials.

Following Ranvir’s disclosures, the police have arrested Gopi, who has confessed to having transferred classified documents to Pakistan drug smuggler, identified as Kothar and an alleged Pak ISI operative, Sikander, in lieu of supply of heroin and financial benefits, said the DGP.

SSP Naveen Singla said the Army authorities had handed over both Army men to the Jalandhar (Rural) police.

The drug connection

• Jalandhar (Rural) police recovered classified papers linked to Army from drug smuggler Ranvir Singh in an NDPS case
• Ranvir claimed he got documents from Sepoy Harpreet Singh, a friend, who further lured Sepoy Gurbhej Singh
• Gurbhej worked as a clerk at 121 Infantry Brigade headquarters in Kargil and got easy access to classified documents, said DGP
• The documents were shared either with ISI operatives directly or through Gopi, a drug smuggler with links to Pak drug syndicates and ISI