J&K Armed Police officer tricked into passing on information to Pakistan, suspended

Officials said that on August 20, amid protests in the Valley, a Pakistani intelligence officer posing as ‘Major Sanjeev’ called the Armed Police telephone number and inquired from the inspector on duty about deployments and other engagements of security forces in various parts of Kashmir.

The Pakistani officer also allegedly asked Inspector Ahmad about deployments of the armed forces companies in Baramulla and Kupwara districts. “The officer on duty told the Pakistani intelligence officer that 12 companies were deployed in the two districts,’’ a senior officer privy to the probe told The Indian Express.

The Pakistani officer then reportedly sought deployment details in Handwara and Bandipore. Ahmad allegedly gave details about Handwara, and said he needed to check the information about Bandipore and passed the phone to his subordinate.

Another officer then allegedly told the Pakistani officer that 42 companies were deployed in Kashmir range, and gave the range-wise details of deployment.

The Pakistani officer reportedly gave an email address, @majsksingh502@gmail.com, and asked the police officers to send the district-wise data of deployment to the particular mail. The police officer assured the Pakistani officer that he would get the details in five minutes.

The phone call to the Armed PCR was traced by the home ministry, which took up the matter with the J&K DGP. An investigation was ordered and Ahmad suspended, officials said.

A senior officer said the preliminary investigation showed that the involvement of Ahmad was “unintentional”.
All control rooms and police officials in the state have been instructed not to provide sensitive information to anyone whose identity is not known to them.