Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested an employee of an ordnance factory in Firozabad for allegedly sharing confidential and sensitive defence-related information with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, after falling into a honey trap.

The accused, Ravindra Kumar, was employed at the Ordnance Factory in Hazratpur, Firozabad. Additional Director General (ADG) of UP ATS, Nilabja Choudhary, stated that Kumar was summoned to the ATS headquarters in Lucknow, where he was arrested following a detailed interrogation.

Information shared with Pakistani handler ‘Neha’
According to ADG Choudhary, Kumar passed sensitive documents to a Pakistani intelligence operative identified as ‘Neha.’ The ATS, along with its associate agencies, received intelligence about Kumar’s involvement in leaking classified information.

"ATS UP and their associate agencies got information that there is a person named Ravindra Kumar who was sharing different confidential and sensitive information with his Pak ISI handler. So, working on this, our Agra unit did a preliminary interrogation of Ravindra Kumar, and he was called to ATS headquarters for a detailed interrogation, where it was proved that he shared very sensitive information through a handler named Neha," ADG Choudhary said.

ISI module operational for a long time
Choudhary further revealed that Kumar had been sharing information intermittently, including daily production reports, stock details, requisitions, and other sensitive documents related to the ordnance factory. He added that ISI operatives often use honey traps to extract classified data, posing a significant threat to national security.

Appeal for enhanced security checks
Urging enhanced security measures, ADG Choudhary advised sensitive institutions to strengthen their security protocols to prevent such breaches.

"Through you, I would request all the sensitive institutions to update their security drills, SOPs, etc., with all the officials of our vital installations and maintain a minimum level of security check on their employees so that such situations can be avoided in future...Further investigation is underway..." he added.