Guwahati: Assam Police have taken a retired Indian Air Force personnel into custody in Tezpur over suspected links with a Pakistani espionage network, officials said, raising concerns related to national security.
The accused, identified as Kulendra Sarma of Patia locality in Tezpur, was arrested late on Thursday night after police carried out surveillance and a preliminary verification of inputs received by the security agencies.
A case has been registered against him under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 147, 148, 152, 238 and 61(2).
Investigators said Sarma was allegedly in communication with individuals believed to be connected to Pakistani intelligence agencies.
During the operation, police seized a mobile phone and a laptop from his possession, which are now being examined.
Tezpur Deputy Superintendent of Police Haricharan Bhumij said initial scrutiny of the electronic devices revealed materials that raised suspicion.
He said investigators believe certain information related to India may have been shared with overseas contacts suspected of having links to 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,” the DSP said.
Sarma had served as a Junior Warrant Officer at the Tezpur Air Force Station before retiring from the Indian Air Force in 2002.
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Following his military service, he joined the Electronics Department of Tezpur University and later retired from the institution as well.
Police alleged that he 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 determine the nature and duration of his alleged contacts, as well as whether any classified or sensitive information was compromised. Further developments are expected as the probe progresses.
