Gujarat ATS, Military Intelligence Arrests A Pakistani ISI Operative For Spying On Indian Army Soldiers

In a recent operation, the Gujarat Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has uncovered an espionage network run by Pakistan's ISI under the guise of the "Har Ghar Tiranga" campaign, leading to the apprehension of a 53-year-old espionage agent, reported Times of India.

This development followed a tip-off from a military intelligence unit.

Military intelligence officials had detected a covert campaign by a Pakistani intelligence operative who utilised a WhatsApp number, 90xxxx6792, to target the Android mobile phones of active defence personnel, particularly those with children attending army public schools (APS) across India.

Under the pretext of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign just before Independence Day, this operative posed as an APS official and sent malicious applications to these targets.

The aim was to encourage them to install the application and upload their child's photo with the national flag for a supposed competition.

After extensive analysis and collaboration with the Air Force Intelligence, Gujarat Police ATS identified the suspect Labhsankar Maheswari, who had facilitated the ISI in acquiring the Indian WhatsApp number.

Moreover, cyber forensics examination revealed that a number, 90xxxx6792, had been used for targeting and hacking Indian defense personnel's mobile devices to obtain crucial information.

It's also suspected that the ISI gained access to information about students and their guardians in APS through vulnerabilities in the school's website or Android application.

During initial questioning, it was revealed that the accused originally hails from Pakistan and came to India in 1999, subsequently obtaining Indian citizenship in 2006.

He stayed with his in-laws who helped him gain first a long-term visa, and subsequently Indian citizenship. In early 2022, he visited his parents in Pakistan, where he was recruited by ISI.

It is believed that he has been in communication with the Pakistani intelligence agency since the visit.

The joint investigation by military intelligence and the Gujarat Police ATS is ongoing, and the accused is expected to face legal proceedings.

The arrest of this espionage agent is seen as a significant success for security agencies, shedding light on the malicious intentions of Pakistani intelligence agencies.

According to the TOI report, an officer hoped that this will serve as a deterrent against further hacking efforts by inimical entities.

Android phone users who received similar malicious applications from the WhatsApp number have been advised to consider a 'factory reset' to protect their devices from data loss.