NIA raids 16 locations in espionage case tied to Pakistan | Fusion - WeRIndia

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its efforts to dismantle a Pakistan-based espionage network leaking India’s defence secrets.

On Wednesday, NIA teams conducted a series of coordinated raids across seven states, targeting suspects linked to the espionage racket.

The raids, which took place at 16 locations in various states, resulted in the seizure of 22 mobile phones and several sensitive documents. These states include Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.

The NIA’s operation was part of an ongoing investigation into the case, which has raised significant concerns about national security.

The espionage case dates back to January 2021, when it was initially registered by the counter-intelligence cell of Andhra Pradesh.

The NIA took over the case in July 2022, uncovering a complex web of Indian nationals allegedly receiving payments from Pakistan to spy on India’s defence establishments.

According to the NIA’s findings, critical information related to the Indian Navy was leaked as part of a conspiracy masterminded by Pakistani intelligence operatives.

In July 2023, the NIA filed charges against two individuals: Akash Solanki, an Indian national, and Meer Balaj Khan, a Pakistani operative. While Solanki was arrested, Khan remains at large, evading capture.

The investigation further expanded in November 2023, with supplementary charges filed against two additional suspects, Manmohan Surendra Panda and Alven.

Panda is currently in custody, but Alven, identified as a Pakistani intelligence operative, is still on the run.

The NIA’s relentless pursuit of this espionage network continued in May 2024, with the filing of another supplementary chargesheet against Amaan Salim Shaikh. Amaan is accused of conspiring with Pakistani intelligence operatives.

The recent raids underscore the NIA’s commitment to safeguarding national security by thoroughly investigating and dismantling espionage networks in India.

The agency remains determined to bring all individuals involved in compromising the country’s defence information to justice, ensuring that those responsible face the full weight of the law.

Image Credit : Pulakit Singh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NIA_Headquarters_in_New_Delhi.jpg