An Indian Army soldier posted at the Hasimara military cantonment in West Bengal’s Alipurduar district has been arrested for allegedly passing classified military information, including details of Army installations and troop movements, to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The accused, identified as Rajbir Singh, a resident of Rasulpur village in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district, was serving with the 15 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles under the 166 Mountain Brigade at Hasimara.

A team from the Punjab Police’s State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) arrested him from the military cantonment and subsequently produced him before a court in Siliguri, which granted a two-day transit remand.

According to police sources, Rajbir allegedly played a role in transmitting sensitive information concerning Indian Army cantonments, military deployments and critical troop movements to Pakistani intelligence operatives.

Investigators suspect that the information was passed to the Pakistan Army and the ISI through a woman identified as Gurnoor Sidhu, who had previously been arrested in connection with the case.

During her arrest, police reportedly seized a tablet and two mobile phones, which are suspected to have been used to communicate and transmit classified military information.

Investigators are also examining allegations that honey-trapping techniques were employed to obtain sensitive information from military personnel.

Three named in espionage case under official secrets act

An FIR was registered on October 8 at the Fazilka Special Operations Cell police station in Punjab under Sections 3 and 4 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

Apart from Rajbir Singh, two other individuals, Dilpreet Singh and Gurnoor Sidhu, have been named as accused.

Police are investigating the alleged roles of all three individuals and attempting to establish the extent of their suspected connections with Pakistani intelligence operatives.

Investigators are also examining whether additional military personnel or civilians were involved in the suspected espionage network.

Aircraft glitch leads to court production in Siliguri

Rajbir was initially scheduled to be taken to Punjab for production before the appropriate court in Fazilka. However, a technical problem involving an aircraft at Bagdogra Airport reportedly disrupted the travel arrangements.

As the accused was required to be produced before a magistrate within the legally prescribed period following his arrest, Punjab Police presented him before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) in Siliguri on Friday.

Public Prosecutor Soumitra Singha Sarkar said the accused had been arrested in connection with allegations of illegally transmitting sensitive national security information to Pakistan’s ISI.

“A case has been registered at the Fazilka police station under the Official Secrets Act, following allegations that the accused, Rajbir Singh, illegally passed on secret and sensitive national information to the ISI,” Sarkar said.

He added that the arresting police officer produced Rajbir before the Siliguri court after the disruption in travel arrangements.

After examining the relevant documents and the legality of the arrest, the Siliguri court granted Punjab Police a two-day transit remand.

“The court granted a two-day transit remand on the condition that the accused must be produced before the Fazilka court within the next 48 hours. All necessary medical fitness examinations will also be conducted during this period,” Sarkar said.

Rajbir is scheduled to be produced before the Fazilka court on November 1, when investigators are expected to seek further custody for questioning.

Suspected espionage network raises security concerns in North Bengal

The arrest of a serving Army soldier from the strategically significant Hasimara cantonment has raised concerns over the possible compromise of sensitive military information in North Bengal.

The region’s proximity to international borders and its strategic importance to India’s eastern defence infrastructure have added significance to the allegations.

Investigators are now attempting to determine the nature and volume of information allegedly leaked, the identities of its intended recipients and whether the suspected network had access to information concerning other military establishments.

Punjab Police are also examining the electronic evidence recovered during the investigation to establish the alleged communication channels between the accused and Pakistani intelligence operatives.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against Rajbir Singh and the other accused have yet to be established in court.

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