3 weeks ago
Suspected Pakistani national, aide held by West Bengal STF
Police in West Bengal, India, arrested two men they think might have been spies.
One of them, named Rana Rauf, is believed to be a citizen of Pakistan.
Police suspect he worked with Pakistan's secret intelligence group, the ISI.
They say Rauf came to India secretly through Nepal in 2012 and lived in West Bengal using a fake name and fake papers, including a fake Aadhaar card.
Police believe he watched trains and army soldiers and took pictures of railway stations and tracks.
They found those photos and documents related to the Indian Army when they searched him.
Police say Rauf sent the pictures to several phone numbers and was planning to run away to Bangladesh.
A court gave the police 14 days to keep questioning him.
The other arrested man may have helped Rauf get his fake identity documents.
A politician blamed the former state government for not dealing with such problems for years, and police are still investigating who else might be involved.
West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) arrested two people, including suspected Pakistani national Rana Rauf alias Wahab Alam (spelled Rana Raut in one report), from Bangaon (Bongaon) near the India-Bangladesh border.
Rauf, a resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan, allegedly entered India illegally through Nepal in 2012 and settled in West Bengal using forged identity documents, including an Aadhaar card.
Investigators suspect long-standing links with Pakistan's ISI and say Rauf tracked trains and armed forces; seized items included photos of railway stations, tracks and Indian Army documents.
The STF says Rauf transmitted images to multiple phone numbers and was allegedly planning to flee to Bangladesh; produced before a court, he was given 14 days police custody.
A second, unidentified person arrested late Tuesday from Topsia allegedly assisted Rauf and helped procure his fake Aadhaar card; the arrest came days after a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operative and two associates were held.
- Who
- West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) personnel; suspects Rana Rauf alias Wahab Alam (also spelled Rana Raut) and an unidentified second person arrested from Topsia.
- What
- Arrest of two people in a suspected espionage case involving an alleged Pakistani national with suspected ISI links, accused of tracking trains and armed forces and gathering sensitive information.
- Where
- Bangaon (Bongaon) in North 24 Parganas district near the India-Bangladesh border, and Topsia in Kolkata.
- When
- Wednesday (Aug 12); the main suspect was arrested early Wednesday morning, and the second person was arrested late Tuesday.
- Why
- Investigators suspect Rauf illegally entered India and collected and possibly transmitted sensitive information on Indian railways and military, allegedly for Pakistan's ISI.
Key facts
- Arresting agency
- West Bengal Special Task Force (STF)
- Number arrested
- 2
- Main suspect
- Rana Rauf alias Wahab Alam, resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan
- Arrest locations
- Bangaon (Bongaon), North 24 Parganas; Topsia, Kolkata
- Alleged link
- Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)
- Alleged entry route
- Illegal entry into India via Nepal in 2012
- Seized items
- Photographs of railway stations, trains and tracks; documents related to the Indian Army
- Custody
- 14 days police custody granted by court
Quotes
Prasenjit Rana
Special Public Prosecutor, STF
“"The person who was apprehended was arrested in Kolkata by the STF. We found out his motive, he crossed the Benapole border from Kolkata and was preparing to go to…"”
freepressjournal.in
“"We are also trying to ascertain what kind of information he was collecting and whether it was being passed on to anyone outside the country"”
theprint.in
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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