A former Indian Air Force official has been arrested in Assam’s Tezpur on charges of espionage for Pakistan, triggering a wider national security investigation that has now exposed a suspected Pakistani
spy network operating across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh—two regions of critical strategic importance to India’s eastern defence architecture.
The accused, Kulendra Sharma, a resident of Patia locality in Tezpur, was detained following intelligence inputs indicating his alleged links with a Pakistani espionage agency. Sharma is a former Junior Warrant Officer who was posted at the Tezpur Air Force Station and retired from service in 2002.
After retiring from the Air Force, Sharma worked in the electronics department of Tezpur University, from where he later retired. Police allege that he covertly shared sensitive defence-related information with Pakistani handlers. A laptop and mobile phone have been seized, and forensic examination is underway. He is scheduled to be produced before a court on Saturday.
“We have seized his mobile and laptop. A case has been registered in Tezpur police station,” said Haricharan Bhumij, DSP, Sonitpur.
Tezpur’s Strategic Importance
Tezpur holds significant strategic importance as it houses the headquarters of the Indian Army’s IV Corps, also known as the Gajraj Corps, which functions under the Eastern Command. The Corps is responsible for guarding vital border regions in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, making Tezpur a key military nerve center for India’s eastern frontier.
Security analysts note that any espionage activity originating from or targeting Tezpur raises serious national security concerns due to its proximity to critical Army and Air Force installations.
Pakistani Link of Assam Woman Under Probe
As the investigation widens, police are also probing the suspected Pakistani connection of Jyotika Kalita, an Assam woman arrested earlier this month in a separate but related national security case.
Kalita, a resident of Sonitpur district, was arrested on December 5 along with four others, including her brother, after investigators detected suspicious foreign-linked financial transactions. Seventeen bank accounts linked to Kalita have been placed under scrutiny following the discovery of unexplained foreign fund flows.
Authorities have seized 44 ATM cards and multiple cheque books, suspecting the use of mule accounts for money laundering and illegal fund routing. According to preliminary findings, Kalita, who previously worked in Dubai, allegedly entered into a secret marriage with a Pakistani national, Ramzan Muhammad.
Investigators claim she maintained direct links with Pakistani operatives based in the UK and the Middle East, and was involved in online financial fraud networks operating across Mauritius, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
More Arrests in Arunachal Pradesh
In a parallel development, two more suspected Pakistani spies have been arrested in Aalo in West Siang district and Miao in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, a strategically sensitive north-eastern frontier state.
Arunachal Pradesh shares a long and contested border with China and hosts several critical Army and Air Force installations, making it a key component of India’s forward defence posture in the eastern sector.
Police confirmed that the arrests are linked to the earlier espionage case in Itanagar, where Nazir Ahmad Malik and Sabir Ahmed Mir were detained.
West Siang Superintendent of Police Kardak Riba identified one of the newly arrested suspects as Hilal Ahmed (26), a resident of Jammu, stating that he had direct links to the Itanagar accused. Another suspect Gulam Mohamad Mir, detained from Miao is currently being interrogated, with further details to be disclosed after preliminary questioning.
Malik, a resident of Kupwara district in Jammu and Kashmir, is believed to be a key conduit between the accused and Pakistani handlers. Police sources said the accused were allegedly collecting sensitive information related to Army movements and key defence installations in Arunachal Pradesh.
The information was reportedly shared with Pakistani handlers using encrypted communication via a Telegram channel named “AL AQSA”. Investigators further revealed that Malik had received specific instructions aimed at destabilizing Army installations in the frontier state.
Security Concerns over ILP Misuse
Arunachal Pradesh Police said several more names have surfaced during interrogation, indicating a wider espionage network and possible local support systems. Indigenous youth organisations have raised concerns that such individuals often enter the state disguised as vendors selling blankets and warm clothing.
They warned that the misuse of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system poses a serious security risk, as it allows suspects to move freely within sensitive border areas.
Police confirmed that interrogation in all cases is ongoing and assured that strict action will be taken against all individuals involved in activities threatening national security.
