Guwahati, October 5, 2026: In a significant counter-espionage operation that has sent ripples through security circles in the Northeast, the Assam Police Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two individuals, including a retired Indian Army jawan currently employed on a contractual basis, for allegedly sharing sensitive security-related information with a Pakistani intelligence operative.
The arrests, carried out during the intervening night of October 3 and 4, followed precise inputs from central intelligence agencies and the Military Intelligence unit of the Tezpur-based Gajraj Corps. One of the accused has been identified as Abhishek Kumar Singh, a 31-year-old resident of Purba Champaran district in Bihar. He was apprehended from a rented house in the Gandhinagar area under Satgaon Police Station in Guwahati.
According to preliminary findings shared by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, both men were allegedly in contact with a Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) and had been passing confidential details concerning the movements and activities of security forces. Sarma, addressing the media in Guwahati on Sunday, stated that the operation was launched on the basis of actionable intelligence provided by central agencies.
“Today, as per input of central agencies, the Assam Police arrested two persons. One is a retired army jawan but currently working on a contractual basis with the army,” the Chief Minister said. He added that initial reports indicate the accused may have been honey-trapped through online sex rackets operated by handlers seeking to extract sensitive information.
During the raid, STF personnel recovered a mobile phone, multiple SIM cards, and several incriminating documents from Singh’s possession. Police sources said the seized material is being examined for digital trails linking the accused to their alleged foreign handlers. A case has been registered by the STF under relevant sections of the law dealing with anti-national activities and unauthorised communication of official secrets.
Security officials familiar with the investigation noted that the involvement of a serving contractual Army employee has raised serious concerns about insider threats. The retired jawan, whose identity has not been officially disclosed pending further interrogation, is believed to have had access to information about troop movements and operational details in the region.
The accused are expected to be handed over to central investigating agencies for deeper probe, including possible examination of cross-border communication networks and financial trails. Assam Police have emphasised that the investigation remains at a preliminary stage and that further arrests cannot be ruled out if additional links surface.
This incident comes amid heightened vigilance along India’s eastern borders and in the Northeast, where intelligence agencies have repeatedly flagged attempts by foreign handlers to recruit individuals through digital means. Honey-trapping, particularly via social media and online dating or adult platforms, has emerged as a recurring modus operandi in recent espionage cases across the country.
Authorities have appealed to the public, especially serving and retired defence personnel, to remain cautious about unsolicited online contacts and to report any suspicious approaches to the nearest police station or intelligence units.