Poverty made Ravi fall in Pakistan trap

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 31

It was poverty that made Ravi Kumar fall in the trap of the Pakistan’s Inter-Services intelligence (ISI). ISI agents, who contacted him through Facebook, had reportedly told him clearly what they wanted and what he would be paid.

Sources in the State Special Operation Cell said it was yet to ascertain the financial transactions between him and Pakistani intelligence officials. The Facebook account of Ravi is being scrutinised.

According to intelligence officials, there have been increased attempts of Pakistani and Chinese agencies to honey trap Indian youth who are poor or unemployed. They also lure officials from security and military for leaking vital information and classified details.

Ravi Kumar worked as a salesman for a soft drink factory. He has an elder brother and three sisters who are married. His parents have died. As he was financially-weak, he was easily lured away by the ISI.

A resident of Dhaleke village in Moga was nabbed from the Chatiwind police station area here two days ago. Yesterday, he was sent to five-day police remand. He was arrested in a a joint operation by the SSOC and the military intelligence. The police had reportedly confiscated photographs of vital installations and movements of Army vehicles, handmade maps of restricted areas, photocopies of restricted training manuals of the Army and information regarding Army attacking formations from his possession. His ISI handlers had sponsored his visit to Dubai between February 20 and 24 where he was briefed regarding tasks.