Madhya Pradesh ATS busts ISI-backed espionage racket, 11 arrested
The arrests were made from Bhopal, Satna, Jabalpur and Gwalior. Those arrested were running a racket of exchange of SIM boxes from various parts of the country to conceal the identity of some ISI handlers who were in touch with their agents here.
In Short
- One is from Satna, two are from Jabalpur, three from Bhopal and five from Gwalior.
- The 11 arrested were running a hawala racket and running an online lottery scam.
- According to the MP ATS, central agencies and ATS are jointly probing the case.
The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has busted an ISI-backed espionage ring and arrested 11 people from Bhopal, Satna, Jabalpur and Gwalior. These accused were running a racket of exchange of SIM boxes from various parts of the country to conceal the identity of some ISI handlers who were in touch with their agents here.
According to Madhya Pradesh ATS chief Sanjeev Shami, the RS Pura police in Jammu had arrested two ISI agents in 2016 who were involved in sending strategic information to their handlers in Pakistan. On being arrested, these two revealed that they were getting money from a Satna-based man identified as Balram.
MP's ATS CHIEF STATEMENT
"We have arrested Balram and through him got to the remaining 10 accused, who were involved in exchanging simboxes in various parts of the country. Balram was managing several bank accounts and was receiving funds through hawala. This money was further supplied by Balram to the other members of the espionage racket," Shami said while addressing a press conference in Bhopal.
Among those who have been arrested one is from Satna, two are from Jabalpur, three from Bhopal and five from Gwalior.
According to the Madhya Pradesh ATS, all the 11 people arrested were running a hawala racket and indulging in an online lottery scam.
HOW EXCHANGE OF SIMs HELPED
The exchange of SIM-boxes helped the ISI get in touch with their people and also its agents operating inside the country. "The operatives active in India had purchased several fake SIM cards and these numbers replaced the original numbers from which the calls were made", Shami said.
According to the ATS, the operatives could not have operated without the assistance of Indian telecom operators. "We have information that employees of some Indian telecom operators were also in touch with them. We are trying to get to them and some more arrests are likely," Shami said.
According to the MP ATS, central agencies and ATS are jointly investigating the case.