NATIONAL: Pakistani Spies in the Guise of Journalists: CRPF ASI Leaked Sensitive Intelligence
ASI Moti Ram Jat in Contact with Pakistani Operatives for Two Years
Espionage in Disguise
Pakistani intelligence operatives, pretending to be television journalists, manipulated a CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and extracted highly confidential information. The accused, Moti Ram Jat, was arrested recently in Delhi, and during his ongoing interrogation, serious intelligence lapses have come to light.
Key Information Leaked to Pakistan
According to an English national daily, within hours of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, Jat reportedly passed on vital details to Pakistani handlers. These included the travel schedule of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the closure of 50 tourist destinations in Kashmir, details about CRPF troop strength and movement, and possible hideouts used by the terrorists.
He maintained close contact with Pakistani intelligence officers disguised as journalists for nearly two years while stationed in the same battalion in Kashmir until just five days before the Pahalgam incident.
Contact Through a Woman Journalist
The espionage started when a woman contacted Jat, claiming to be a journalist with a major Chandigarh-based news outlet. She initially asked him to share minor information. Over time, regular voice and video calls followed. Three months later, a Pakistani operative posed as another employee from the same media house and continued the information exchange.
Jat then began sharing classified information, including Multi-Agency Centre intelligence updates and CRPF deployment data, as instructed by the Pakistani operative.
Financial Incentives and Digital Trail
Jat received ₹3,500 on the 4th of every month and ₹12,000 for each sensitive piece of information he provided. These payments were made directly into accounts held by him and his wife. CRPF officials confirmed that even after his transfer to Delhi, he leaked a classified list of 50 tourist spots closed due to security reasons.
Crucially, investigators found that he did not delete any of the messages or call records tied to this illegal communication, leaving a full digital trail of the espionage.
Ongoing Investigation
The case has raised alarms within national security agencies, prompting a wider probe into potential internal vulnerabilities. The involvement of multiple Pakistani handlers and the use of media disguise tactics are under further examination.