ITANAGAR, OCT 19:
Sensitive infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh, including the Kalai-II Hydroelectric and Kamala projects, have emerged among the subjects under investigation after Jammu and Kashmir Police booked the wife of a serving Army officer for suspected espionage-related activities involving alleged Chinese intelligence operatives, media reports said.
The woman, a freelance researcher from Telangana, allegedly prepared analytical reports on strategically important infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh, besides defence and security matters concerning India’s borders.
According to reports, preliminary examination of her seized mobile phone revealed research documents relating to the Kalai-II Hydroelectric and Kamala projects in Arunachal Pradesh, India-China relations, military deployment and other sensitive national security issues.
Investigators suspect that the woman, who is married to an Army Major, may have been tasked with preparing analytical papers for individuals allegedly associated with Chinese intelligence agencies.
The reports also covered developments along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, drone deployment, defence agreements and infrastructure projects in Assam.
Police registered a case at Gandhi Nagar police station in Jammu on October 16 under relevant provisions of the Official Secrets Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Acting on intelligence inputs, a joint team of police and central intelligence personnel intercepted the woman at Jammu Tawi railway station on October 14 while she was reportedly preparing to travel to Pathankot.
Her mobile phone was subsequently seized for forensic examination.
During questioning, the woman reportedly acknowledged maintaining contact with a Chinese national through WhatsApp and a Malaysian national who allegedly had links with Chinese intelligence agencies.
However, she maintained that her research was based entirely on publicly available information and that she had used artificial intelligence platforms, including ChatGPT and Claude, to prepare the documents.
Officials said the woman, who previously undertook an internship with the United Nations, has not been arrested and is cooperating with investigators.
The investigation is examining whether sensitive information concerning Arunachal Pradesh’s strategically important infrastructure projects was communicated to foreign intelligence operatives.
Investigators have not yet established whether any classified or sensitive information was actually shared. Forensic examination of her electronic devices and financial transactions is underway to determine the nature and extent of her alleged foreign contacts, officials added. (Source: NewsFY)
