Irshad Ahmed was employed as a labourer at the Indian Army’s 29 Division Headquarter in the Mamoon Cantt in Pathankot.
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This arrest is being considered a big catch for India’s intelligence agencies as it shows Pathankot is still on the terror radar despite the recent attack at the air base.
Intelligence agencies have got a number of photos of sensitive military installations and equipments from Ahmed’s phone.
“Most often, the ISI tends to look for a new target after attacking one, because the level of guard is raised in the place that has been attacked, but this arrest has surprised us”, said an Intelligence official.
He was working undercover as a labour in Pathankot and the police upon arresting him had found sensitive information on him.
Security agencies have not as yet established a direct link between Irshad and last month’s terror attack. Sajjad then reportedly shared the pictures with his Pakistani handlers via email and secure messaging services.
The arrest comes within a month of the terror attack at the Pathankot air base, which houses fighter jets and attack helicopters, in which seven security personnel were killed along with six militants.
As per the report, Irshad had been instructed by his Pakistani handlers to collect photographs of all sensitive installations and equipment inside the cantonment.
Sajjad may now be asked about the foundation of what’s exposed in the interrogation of Irshad.
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It has been found during his questioning that he had been sending photographs of sensitive locations at Pathankot at the behest of one Sajjad who was arrested recently at Jammu and Kashmir.
