Pakistani National Arrested in West Bengal Accused of Spying on Indian Military, Railways
KOLKATA — A Pakistani national arrested in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district was allegedly tasked by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence with gathering information about the Indian Army, Navy and Railways in eastern India, according to state police sources.
The suspect, identified as Wahab Alam, was arrested in the Habra area and is being questioned by the West Bengal Police Special Task Force.
Police sources said Alam told investigators during questioning that he entered India through the India-Nepal border in 2012 and had since lived in several parts of West Bengal, periodically changing locations.
Investigators also recovered suspected forged Indian identity documents from Alam, including an Aadhaar card, PAN card and voter identification card.
Authorities believe the documents were obtained with the help of Muhammad Izaz, who was later arrested by the STF in the Topsia area of eastern Kolkata following information provided during Alam’s interrogation.
Police sources said Alam had previously stayed at Izaz’s residence in Topsia before moving to Habra. Investigators believe he left the area after the Special Intensive Revision exercise began in West Bengal earlier this year.
The STF is also examining whether Alam had been preparing to cross into neighboring Bangladesh. Police believe his move to Habra, which is relatively close to the India-Bangladesh border, may have been connected to a possible attempt to leave the country.
Investigators are questioning both Alam and Izaz to determine whether they had additional associates in West Bengal and to establish what information, if any, had already been passed to handlers in Pakistan.
State Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul, reacting to the arrest, blamed the previous Trinamool Congress government for allowing such elements to establish themselves in the state.
“My appeal to people is to be alert. If any suspicious persons or any suspicious activity is detected in your locality, kindly contact the local police station immediately,” she said. (Source: IANS)
