Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 23: Police in Arunachal Pradesh have arrested two men from the Kashmir Valley on charges of spying for Pakistan, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
According to authorities, the two accused—identified as Aijaz Ahmed Bhat and Bashir Ahmad Ganai, both residents of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir—were taken into custody in Itanagar on December 18. They are alleged to have gathered and transmitted sensitive information from various locations in Arunachal Pradesh to handlers based in Pakistan.
Inspector General of Police (Law & Order), Arunachal Pradesh, Chukhu Apa, told reporters that with these arrests, the total number of people held in the espionage case has increased to five. The accused have been brought from Kupwara to Arunachal Pradesh and are currently in police custody.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspects were actively collecting classified information and sharing it across borders. Officials said forensic analysis is underway, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
The case first came to light on November 21, when Itanagar police arrested Nazir Ahmad Malik and Sabir Ahmed Mir, also from Kupwara district, following credible intelligence inputs. Another suspect, Shabir Ahmed Khan, was later arrested in the Itanagar area, bringing the total arrests to five.
IGP Apa said the arrests were the result of sustained intelligence-led operations conducted by the Itanagar police under the supervision of Superintendent of Police Jummar Basar. Of the five accused, two were arrested in Kupwara, while three were apprehended from different locations within the Itanagar Capital Region.
Investigators revealed that the accused posed as blanket sellers, travelling across different parts of Arunachal Pradesh, which allegedly helped them gather information without arousing suspicion.
The IGP also appealed to residents of Itanagar to remain cautious and verify identification documents with the police before renting out accommodation to outsiders, warning that negligence could lead to serious security concerns.