Four persons arrested for spying near Naliya IAF base in border district Kutch

Bhuj: Four persons are arrested in connection with a complaint filed against them over breach of Official Secret Act as they did photography of Indian Air Force (IAF) radar and other facilities at Mothala-Naliya in border district Kutch.

Accused Rafiq Mamad Hajam from Reladiya (Manjal), Abbas Dawood Padhiyar from Nundhatad, Arbaz Ismael Sumra from Naliya and a 17-year old teenager are booked by Naliya police under the sections related to Official Secret Act and conspiracy on a complaint received from IAF Mothala station officer Shangulapam Radhakant Sharma.

According to complaint, four accused were taking photographs of IAF radar and other secret facilities on January 29 during Bharat Bandh call from a roof of farm-side cabin. IAF jawan on nearby watchtower spotted them after which they were detained by local police and their two digital camera and four smart phones were seized.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Saurabh Tolambiya they were arrested after a complaint was filed against them.

Police is probing whether the accused sent the pictures to someone across the border or elsewhere.

Police have sent the cameras and cellphones used in this crime for forensic examination. Social media accounts of the four accused are also being probed to find out with whom they were in touch.

Arrests of four accused took place after over a month time following confirmation by Special Operation Group of Bhuj police that accused had indeed taken photographs and videos for espionage.

DeshGujarat