ITI teacher among 3 arrested in Odisha for links with Pakistani intelligence operatives, ISI agents

Bhubaneswar: Odisha STF arrested three persons including an ITI teacher for their alleged involvement with Pakistani intelligence operatives and ISI agents.

The accused persons were identified as Pathanisamant Lenka (35), a resident of Badapandusar under Itamati PS in Nayagarh district; Saroj Kumar Nayak, an ITI teacher from Dasapalla area in Nayagarh district; Soumya Pattanaik from Sujanpur area in Jajpur district. The trio was arrested following raids by the STF on charges of sharing OTP to anti-national elements.

During the raid, the police officials seized various incriminating materials such as mobile phones, pre-activated SIM cards and laptop from their possession. The seized materials included 19 mobile phones including one Apple mobile, 47 SIM cards, 61 ATM cads and 23 SIM covers.

As the accused persons failed to give any satisfactory answers regarding sharing of OTPs and other information to foreign nationals, the STF arrested and forwarded them to the SDJM Court in Bhubaneswar on May 13.

The STF in this connection booked the trio under sections 419/420/465/467/468/471/120(B)/34 IPC r/w. 66 C & 66 D IT Act, 2000.

The accused persons were fraudulently procuring huge numbers of SIMs in other’s name and selling the OTPs (linked/generated using the SIMs) to various clients including some Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIO)/ ISI agents in Pakistan as well as in India. In return they were paid by some Pakistani agents based in India. They were also in the touch with a woman PIO agent, who was arrested last year in an Official secrets Act/ Honey-Trap case in Rajasthan, the STF release stated today.

According to investigating officials, the OTPs generated using SIMs were used to create various accounts and channels on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook and Instagram as well as on online shopping sites like Amazon and Flipkart. The OTPs were also used in opening email accounts, which were actually operated from Pakistan.

These social media platforms are used in various kinds of Anti-India activities like spying, communication with terrorists, radicalization, running anti-India propaganda, fuelling anti-India/divisive sentiments on social media, sextortion, Honey-trapping etc. As these accounts are registered/linked on Indian mobile numbers, people find it trustworthy.

The accounts opened on online shopping platforms are also used to supply items to terrorists, anti-India elements etc. This apart, the accused persons were also in a business of creating and selling mule accounts through social media groups which are again used in various kinds of crimes, the release stated.