Haryana lawyer arrested for spying for Pak visited Punjab to get money for terror funding
Gurugram(PTI): A resident of Nuh district, who was arrested in November on charges of spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, allegedly visited Punjab 5 times in the last three months to transact money for terror funding, a senior investigating officer said on Tuesday.
The accused, identified as Rizwan, who is an advocate by profession, allegedly conducted a transaction of approximately Rs 45 lakhs with hawala traders involved in terrorist funding, the officer added.
This terror funding network is believed to have links to Pathankot, with handlers operating in various cities across Punjab, working to launder funds received through hawala. It is said that hawala traders have transferred over Rs 1 crore within a short timeframe, much of which was intended to bolster the terrorist network in Punjab, according to police sources, according to police sources.
In connection with this case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nuh police initially detained Musharraf, a friend of Rizwan, who was later released after questioning. Subsequently, the SIT arrested Ajay Arora, a resident of Malaysian Patti in Jalandhar, Punjab. He has been accused of sending money to Rizwan through Hawala and facilitating the transactions, police said.
Following Arora's arrest, three additional suspects were apprehended in Amritsar, Punjab, by the SIT. The police are currently interrogating the three suspects, identified as Sandeep Singh, Amandeep, and Jaskaran, who are being held on an 8-day police remand. More arrests are expected in this investigation, police added.
According to officials, the police presented the accused in court at night.
Officials from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) in Tauru confirmed that Rizwan maintains an account with them, but the police have instructed them not to disclose any information regarding Rizwan's account to anyone.
"We are providing the police with the information they require about Rizwan's bank account. Senior police officers have visited the bank multiple times," said Surender Kumar Meena, the bank's manager, although he refused to provide any details about Rizwan's account.
"During interrogation, Rizwan revealed many secrets, including having taken his fellow lawyer, Musharraf, from Bainsi village with him, although Musharraf was unaware of the true purpose of Rizwan's repeated visits to Punjab. Consequently, the investigating team was released after questioning," an investigating officer of the SIT said.
A senior police officer mentioned that suspicious activities, such as terrorism, are being closely monitored. Individuals suspected or known to be involved in such activities are being identified, and their backgrounds are under thorough investigation.
"The SIT team is investigating the bank details, transactions, and even the mobile locations of the suspects. Their daily activities are also being closely monitored. The matter is related to the security of the country, and an in-depth investigation will be conducted", he added.
In May, police arrested Mohammad Tarif, a resident of Kangarka village in the Tauru area, for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with Pakistani handlers and supplying Indian SIM cards to agents at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.
Arman, a resident of Rajaka village, was also arrested in May for alleged spying.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Russian military hardware, spare parts for Indian military to be manufactured in India
New Delhi (PTI): Russia agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of military hardware and spare parts for maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment.
Ways to bolster overall bilateral defence cooperation figured prominently during summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
It has been a long-standing grievance of armed forces that the supply of critical spares and equipment from Russia takes a long time, affecting the maintenance of military systems procured from that country.
"Both sides agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for maintenance of Russian origin arms and defence equipment under Make-in-India programme through transfer of technology," a joint statement said.
ALSO READ: India, Russia explore cooperation on small modular reactors, floating nuclear power plants
It said both sides also agreed to set up joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian armed forces as well as subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries.
The joint statement said the India-Russia defence partnership is being reoriented to take up joint co-development and co-production of advanced defence technology and systems.
In their meeting on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov resolved to expand bilateral defence cooperation.
In the meeting, the Indian side showed keen interest in procurement of additional batches of S-400 missile systems from Moscow to bolster its combat prowess.
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Three squadrons have already been delivered.
The S-400 systems played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor. India may also look at procuring the S-500 missile systems from Russia.
In the Modi-Putin talks, the two sides also agreed to continue jointly developing systems of bilateral trade settlements through the use of national currencies.
Additionally, the two sides agreed to continue their consultations on enabling the interoperability of the national payment systems, financial messaging systems, as well as central bank digital currency platforms.
Modi and Putin appreciated the ongoing intensification of the joint work on a free trade agreement on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, covering sectors of mutual interest, the joint statement said.
They also directed both sides to intensify efforts in negotiations on a mutually beneficial agreement on the promotion and protection of investment, it said.
India and Russia also welcomed steps to ensure long-term supply of fertilisers to India and discussed the potential establishment of joint ventures in this area.
