ISI spy nabbed in Pokhran for leaking IAF details

An alleged Inter Services Intelligence spy has been arrested for passing information to an officer of the Pakistani intelligence agency about the just-concluded Indian Air Force exercise 'Iron Fist' in Pokhran.

Sumaar Khan, a computer expert who is around 35 years of age, was taken into custody by a team of Rajasthan police from his house in Pokhran area in Jaisalmer district on Sunday after he was caught spying for Inter-Services Intelligence, Additional DGP (Intelligence)-Raj, Dalpat Singh Dinkar, said in Jaipur.

"He was sharing information with an officer of a unit of ISI in a coded language. He was under observation for some time and was also being monitored on February 22 when the IAF exercise was going on," he said.

Sumaar, who was allegedly trained in spying by the ISI in Pakistan last year, was served a notice under section 8 of Official Secrets Act and was questioned yesterday. Later, he was placed under arrest and was brought to Jaipur for joint interrogation by intelligence agencies today, Dinkar said.

Sumaar, who was arrested under sections 3 and 3/9 of the Official Secrets Act, was produced before a local court in Jaipur today where the magistrate remanded him in police custody for eight days.

Dinkar claimed that Summar confessed to have passed various important information about defence installation in the Western Sector in coded language through different mobile numbers and Internet.

"He visited Pakistan in October-November last year where he came in contact with Inter-Services Intelligence through his maternal uncle Shah Mohammad who lives in Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan," the officer said.

SP Jaisalmer Pankaj Kumar Chaudhary said that following interception of his calls to Pakistan, Sumaar, an Indian national, was caught from his home Sunday morning.

A 10th class passout, Sumaar is an expert in computers, and would talk to his uncle over phone in code words.

He is believed to have passed on maps and other documents pertaining to defence establishments in the western sector to his handlers in Pakistan.

Some documents and evidence were also seized from his house.

Information about the IAF's day-night exercise 'Iron Fist' at Pokhran firing ranges was the latest inputs he shared with the ISI.

The exercise, in which the IAF demonstrated its full combat and fire power, was witnessed by President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A K Antony and difence attache of friendly countries on February 22.