Two J&K residents arrested in Arunachal for allegedly spying for Pakistani handlers
Guwahati: The Itanagar police have arrested two individuals from Arunachal Pradesh for allegedly gathering intelligence for Pakistani handlers.
The accused have been identified as Nazir Ahmad Malik and Sabir Ahmed Mir, both residents of Kupwara in Jammu & Kashmir.
The arrests were made on 21 November after police received credible information regarding their possible involvement in espionage activities.
Nazir was initially detained from Ganga village, and using the information he provided, Sabir was apprehended later the same day from Abotani Colony.
Local sources indicate that the duo shared sensitive information about Army movements and installations in Arunachal Pradesh with their Pakistani handlers via a Telegram channel.
The accused reportedly visited Arunachal regularly over several years under the pretext of selling clothes, moving across different districts.
They are said to have entered forward areas such as Kibitho, Anini, and Tezu, allegedly collecting critical intelligence for their handlers.
During questioning, Nazir reportedly admitted that Sabir had recruited him for spying in return for monetary incentives.
A source revealed, “Nazir collected extensive information, including photographs and videos of key military installations, and regularly communicated with Sabir throughout this period.”
Both men arrived in the state in April and began their covert activities, following detailed instructions from their handlers regarding the information to collect and the specific districts and security establishments to target.
Sources noted that Sabir was the first to establish contact with a Pakistani handler through Telegram.
Superintendent of Police, Capital Itanagar, Jummar Basar, advised media outlets not to sensationalise the case, stating that publicising details could jeopardise ongoing investigations and future arrests.
The police have expanded the scope of the investigation and expect additional arrests.
A senior officer said, “This is a highly sensitive case and just the beginning of the investigation. We seek public cooperation.”
The state police are coordinating closely with multiple agencies, including authorities from other states, to ensure thorough action.