Assam Police have taken a retired Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel into custody in Tezpur on suspicion of links with a Pakistani espionage network, officials said, raising concerns related to national security.
The accused, identified as Kulendra Sarma, a resident of the Patia locality in Tezpur, was arrested early on Friday following sustained surveillance and preliminary verification of intelligence inputs received from security agencies.
"A case has been registered against Sarma under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 147, 148, 152, 238 and 61(2). Sarma was in communication with individuals believed to be connected to Pakistani intelligence agencies," said a police officer.
During the operation, police seized a mobile phone and a laptop from his possession, which are currently undergoing forensic examination.
Tezpur Deputy Superintendent of Police Haricharan Bhumij said initial scrutiny of the electronic devices revealed material that raised serious suspicion. He added that investigators believe certain information related to India may have been shared with overseas contacts suspected of having links with Pakistani intelligence agencies.
“At this point, it cannot be conclusively established that the accused has confirmed links with Pakistan. However, based on the evidence recovered and intelligence inputs, there is strong suspicion, and the matter is under detailed investigation,” Bhumij said.
Sarma had served as a Junior Warrant Officer at the Tezpur Air Force Station before retiring from the Indian Air Force in 2002. After his military service, he joined the Electronics Department of Tezpur University and later retired from the institution as well.
Police have alleged that Sarma may have been covertly passing on sensitive information to a foreign espionage network. He is scheduled to be produced before a court on Friday.
Officials said the investigation is ongoing to ascertain the nature and duration of his alleged contacts and to determine whether any classified or sensitive information was compromised. Further developments are expected as the probe progresses.
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