The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Friday arrested a labourer for allegedly leaking sensitive information about the movement of Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships to a Pakistani agent. The accused, identified as Dipesh Gohel, worked as a welder-cum-labourer at the Okha jetty in Devbhumi Dwarka district and was allegedly paid ₹200 per day for passing on the information.
SP (ATS) K. Siddharth said Gohel has been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 61 and 147 for criminal conspiracy and waging war against the government.
Acting on a tip-off that Gohel was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence operative, the ATS placed him under surveillance. Technical analysis revealed that Gohel had been receiving calls and messages from Pakistan. Investigations showed he was in touch with a Pakistani woman named Sahima, who claimed to work for Pakistan’s navy.
“Gohel met Sahima on Facebook seven months ago, after which their communication shifted to WhatsApp. She offered him ₹200 per day in exchange for details about ICG ship movements and identification numbers,” said SP Siddharth.
Gohel provided the woman with bank account details belonging to three friends, through which he received a total of ₹42,000 via UPI transactions over seven months. The SP added that he later withdrew the cash from his friends.
For the past three years, Gohel worked for a contractor responsible for repairing ICG vessels at Okha jetty, giving him access to sensitive information. ATS officials suspect his actions could have compromised national security.
The case highlights concerns over using social media platforms for espionage and exploiting vulnerable individuals for intelligence gathering. The ATS continues its investigation into the network and any further links Gohel may have had with Pakistan-based entities.
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