Employee at Indian Embassy in Moscow arrested from Meerut for spying for Pakistan’s ISI

In a significant development, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS) has apprehended Satyendra Siwal, an employee at the Indian Embassy in Moscow, on charges of espionage for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Siwal, a native of Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, served as a multi-tasking staff (MTS) at the Ministry of External Affairs since 2021. The arrest follows intelligence received from confidential sources indicating the presence of an ISI spy within the Embassy.

Arrest and Confession:

Acting on the intelligence, UP ATS interrogated Siwal, who initially provided unsatisfactory answers but later confessed to engaging in espionage activities. The arrest took place in Meerut, with Siwal allegedly extracting confidential documents by leveraging his position within the Indian Embassy. Reports suggest his motivation was financial gain, leading to the compromise of critical information related to the Indian Army's operations and day-to-day functioning.

Espionage Details:

Siwal stands accused of passing sensitive information about the strategic activities of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of External Affairs, and Indian military establishments to ISI handlers. His arrest sheds light on the ISI's persistent attempts to infiltrate Indian bureaucratic setups, with moles planted to extract valuable intelligence.

Previous Incidents:

This incident follows a previous case in October, where a Pakistani man granted Indian citizenship in 2005 was arrested for allegedly spying on Indian defence personnel through WhatsApp. Labhshankar Maheshwari, from Tarapur town in Gujarat, was involved in a plot to send spyware disguised as a fake 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign via WhatsApp to Indian defence personnel. The espionage activities aimed to assist Pakistani authorities, resulting in Maheshwari being booked under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita Act and the Information Technology Act.

ISI's Strategies:

The ISI's reputation for attempting to infiltrate Indian bureaucratic setups remains a cause for concern. Apart from espionage, the intelligence agency actively promotes separatism causes within India and abroad. Recent reports indicate ISI's involvement in funding Khalistani activities in Canada, emphasizing the agency's multifaceted strategies to achieve its objectives.

Conclusion:

The arrest of Satyendra Siwal underscores the ongoing challenges India faces in safeguarding its national security. The incident serves as a reminder of the constant vigilance required to thwart espionage attempts and highlights the need for stringent measures to protect sensitive information within diplomatic missions. As India grapples with external threats, continuous efforts are imperative to strengthen the country's security apparatus and counter the nefarious designs of intelligence agencies like the ISI.