New delhi/Kolkata (The Statesman/ANN) - A 39-year-old suspected Pakistani spy, who was sarcastically termed as a "naturalised Kolkatan" by a police officer as he stayed in the city for the past 20 years and even married a local girl without detection, was arrested in the Capital, with Delhi Police today claiming that he was tasked with collecting defence-related documents and sending them across the border.
Kamran Akbar, who was staying in Kolkata since 1992 and got married to a local girl three years ago, was apprehended by a Crime Branch team on February 13 from Chelmsford Road near the New Delhi railway station, allegedly along with sensitive documents relating to defence, DCP (crime) Ashok Chand said.
"Now, the investigating team is examining his cell-phone details where they found around 250 contact numbers. Other teams have been sent to Kolkata and Sikar, Rajasthan, for further investigations as there is a strong possibility that some insiders of the Indian military agency were also involved," said Mr Chand.
He said Kamran had come to the Capital from Kolkata on 13 February morning to collect the incriminating documents which were to be sent to his handlers in Pakistan.
Mr Chand said on 13 February, Crime Branch inspector PC Khanduri received information that a Pakistani national would come to Delhi to receive some sensitive documents from his contact. "Acting on a tip-off, police laid a trap and Kamran was apprehended from the spot. After collecting the documents, he was to board Poorva Express for Kolkata on the same night," added Mr Chand.
Mr Chand claimed that in 1990, Kamran, who hails from Karachi, dropped out of his studies and came to Kolkata in 1992 on a valid Pakistani passport to meet one of his relatives. He stayed in Kolkata with his uncle Mohammed Salim. He, along with his uncle and his associate, identified as Ashraf Khan, went to Goa. "In Goa, they started committing robberies but in their second attempt, they were caught," said Mr Chand.
Mr Chand said that in 1996, he was released and came back to Kolkata. With his Pakistani passport having expired, he got a fake Indian passport made in the name of Asif Hussain and went back to Pakistan. "He was reportedly recruited by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in October 2004 after they came to know that he had stayed in India and had acquired an Indian passport," added Mr Chand.
"He was motivated by the Pakistan Military Intelligence to work for them on the promise of providing him adequate compensation. He was trained about Indian military ranks, Orbat, formation signs, TAC numbers, codes to be used for communication, surveillance and anti-surveillance measures, internet, e-mail chatting and some lessons in Hindi," added Mr Chand.
"He was especially given Delhi as his target area and was tasked to cultivate defence personnel. He used to get funds through Hawala and remittances from abroad were also made to his bank account," said Mr Chand.
Police said later on a Pakistani passport, Kamran entered Nepal via Dhaka, Bangladesh, in 2007 from where he was provided a driving licence of Sikar in Rajasthan and 400 US dollars. "He told the police that after reaching Kathmandu he illegally entered India and reached Kolkata. Since 2007 he was spying for Pakistan while residing in Kolkata. In order to settle down in India he married a local woman in 2009. He is the father of two children and also has a business of garment selling," added the police.
Police have recovered a cell-phone, Indian voter ID card, PAN card, driving licence, Indian passport and an account in a nationalised bank from his possession.
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