‘SDMs under scanner for army info leak’

The SDMs posted at Sadar office in Jhansi since 2009 have come under the ATS scanner after it was found that a stenographer had been leaking confidential information regarding Army movement to suspected ISI agents for the last eight years. The anti-terrorist squad (ATS) will interrogate the sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) concerned to find out how they failed to detect the leakage of sensitive information from their office. The ATS will also look into the possible involvement of the officers in the racket.

LUCKNOW: The SDMs posted at Sadar office in Jhansi since 2009 have come under the ATS scanner after it was found that a stenographer had been leaking confidential information regarding Army movement to suspected ISI agents for the last eight years.

The anti-terrorist squad (ATS) will interrogate the subdivisional magistrates (SDMs) concerned to find out how they failed to detect the leakage of sensitive information from their office. The ATS will also look into the possible involvement of the officers in the racket.

Inspector general, ATS, Asim Arun said the sleuths found that information regarding the movement of the Army was being leaked from the SDM office, Sadar.

The ATS zeroed in on stenographer Raghvendra Ahirwar and detained him on August 4.

Ahirwar spilled the beans during interrogation and told the ATS that various units of the Indian Army arrived for practice at Babina field firing range near Jhansi.

He said the Army used to inform the district magistrate about its movement and a copy of the letter was also sent to the SDM, Sadar. Ahirwar used to maintain the record and letters at the SDM office.

Ahirwar said one ‘Major Yadav’ used to call him on his mobile phone through SIM box or Internet to collect information about the movement of Army units. He told Ahirwar that he was posted in Babina.

During investigation, the Army informed the ATS that no ‘Major Yadav’ was posted at Babina. The ATS has ordered a technical probe into the internet call to find out its source.

Arun said leaking sensitive information was a crime under Sections 3/4/5/9 of the Official Secrets Act (1923) under which a person could be sentenced to jail for up to seven years.

“Rather than taking Ahirwar into custody, ATS will move a petition for his prosecution and file charge sheet in the court,” he said.

Arun said earlier too agents of Pak intelligence agency ISI have collected secret information from its moles in government offices. “Officers should remain alert and ensure that responsible employees are posted on sensitive positions,” he said.