nia-arrests-kolkata-man-for-pakistan-linked-espionage-network

Central investigative agencies have uncovered a suspected cross-border espionage network with links to Pakistan, following the arrest of a Kolkata-based suspect by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) early on Thursday.

 

The accused, identified as Zafar Riaz alias Rizvi, has been taken into custody on charges of espionage and engaging in activities deemed detrimental to India’s national security. According to officials, Riaz had been under surveillance for a considerable period, with a Lookout Notice already issued against him prior to his arrest.

 

Investigators revealed that this is not Riaz’s first brush with the law. He was previously apprehended in 2005 on similar allegations of espionage linked to Pakistan. Despite earlier action, he allegedly resumed suspicious activities in subsequent years.

 

NIA sources stated that Riaz frequently traveled between India and Pakistan after 2005 and eventually began residing in Pakistan for extended periods. During his stay there, he reportedly came into contact with operatives of Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus, who allegedly recruited him with promises of financial incentives and permanent residency.

 

 

Authorities allege that Riaz subsequently began passing sensitive and classified information related to India to handlers across the border. Officials have also uncovered a sophisticated method used in facilitating espionage operations.

 

According to investigators, Riaz used a Pakistan-registered mobile number to transmit One-Time Passwords (OTPs) linked to Indian phone numbers. These OTPs were then used to create fake WhatsApp accounts, enabling operatives to communicate while evading Indian surveillance systems.

 

The probe has further identified a suspected associate, Motiram Jat from Rajasthan, who allegedly used these illicitly created accounts to share sensitive information with handlers based in Islamabad. Authorities have initiated a parallel investigation into Jat’s activities.

 

Officials believe the network extends beyond Kolkata and Rajasthan, suggesting the presence of a broader espionage syndicate with potential sleeper cells across multiple regions of the country.

 

The NIA, along with other central intelligence agencies, has launched extensive search operations nationwide to trace additional operatives and identify the key masterminds behind the alleged espionage racket.