AMRITSAR : Punjab Police’s state special operations cell (SSOC) has arrested an electrician with military engineering service (MES) in Jalandhar Cantonment for allegedly leaking details of Army units to Pakistani intelligence operatives.A release issued by the SSOC on Friday informed that Ram Kumar, resident of Nalwa Road, Jalandhar, was arrested under sections 3,4,5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act 1923 and under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC ). Police also seized two mobile phones and four SIM cards from him.Ram’s preliminary interrogation revealed that he was working as an electrician with MES in Jalandhar Cantonment since 2013.He came in touch with a Pakistan-based intelligence operative over social media and befriended him. His handler would ask him to provide information of Indian Army units situated along the Pakistan border, movement of Army convoys in the area, and details of specific Army units over WhatsApp.The release informed that Kumar confessed to having passed sensitive information to his Pakistani handler over social-media platforms. He also provided mobile numbers of military officers to Pakistani intelligence operatives in exchange for money.A source in SSOC said the arrest was made on basis of inputs provided by a Jammu and Kashmir-based unit of Military Intelligence, which had informed it about being in touch with Pakistani intelligence operatives. “He has been paid money more than once,” said the release, adding that Kumar’s handlers in Pakistan had become particularly inquisitive about the movement of Army units of late.It said police were checking Kumar’s social-media contacts to unearth more details of the racket.Intelligence wing of Punjab Police claimed that it managed to bust the espionage racket with specific inputs provided by reliable sources and sister agencies, the State Special Operations Cell.The spokesperson added that after the Pulwama attack , the agent’s handlers had become particularly inquisitive about the movement of the Indian Army units. Two mobile phones and four SIM cards were also recovered from the accused, who was produced in court on Friday to seek police remand to unearth complete espionage racket active in the state.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ludhiana headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.