India arrests Sri Lankan national who 'spied for neighbouring country'

Published September 11, 2014
Arun Selvarajan was said to be indulging in espionage activities at the instigation of Pakistan. — File photo/AFP
Arun Selvarajan was said to be indulging in espionage activities at the instigation of Pakistan. — File photo/AFP

Indian authorities on Thursday arrested a Sri Lankan national on charges of spying for 'a neighbouring country', said a statement issued by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA).

According to the NIA press release, Arun Selvarajan was arrested for his involvement in the Thameem Ansari case at the claimed instigation of a neighbouring country. Indian media has termed the neighbouring country Pakistan.

The NIA statement said that Selvarajan was found in possession of two passports, from Sri Lanka and India.

"He has learnt to have gained access to certain vital installations in the guise of managing events," the statement added.

Selvarajan was passing on information using internet communication and "incriminating evidence" had been seized from him by the Indian authorities, it was alleged. He also has criminal cases pending in Sri Lanka against him along with a look out circular, the statement said.

Ansari was arrested in September 2012 during an IB-Q branch joint operation for allegedly carrying CDs and a pen drive that had information on important military areas and also landing points on the southern coastline in India.

He was allegedly carrying a DVD of training paratroopers landing in some desert and also a Signal Corps parade. He was also allegedly carrying visuals the Indian Army insignia that army officers wear on their shirts according to the Times of India.

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