JAISALMER: Pakistani spy Mushtaq Ali, who was arrested from the Nachna region of Jaisalmer for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, was brought to Jaisalmer on Friday for area verification during his five-day police remand granted by the court after his arrest under the Official Secrets Act.During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted that his ISI handler had assigned him the task of recruiting and preparing new agents to work for the ISI in border districts including Barmer, Bikaner, and Sri Ganganagar.After being arrested under the Official Secrets Act on Tuesday, Mushtaq Ali was taken to Jaisalmer as part of the ongoing investigation and area verification process.A special team from the Rajasthan Intelligence Agency, led by Special Police Station SHO Inspector Vinod Meena, arrived in Jaisalmer with the accused on Thursday night.Several individuals suspected to have been in contact with Mushtaq were also questioned during the operation.According to official sources, the special team took the accused to various locations in and around Jaisalmer from where he had allegedly sent photographs and videos through mobile applications to his ISI handlers in Pakistan.Investigators sought detailed information regarding the sites and the intelligence he had shared.The accused was also taken outside the Jaisalmer Military Station, where he allegedly recorded and transmitted videos of the military installation’s surroundings to his handler in Pakistan.On Friday, he was escorted to several border areas in the Nachna sector, including roads, water points, infrastructure facilities, and other strategic locations about which he had reportedly passed information across the border.Officials stated that the team first visited Mushtaq’s residence at Hingolo Ki Dhani near Jaisalmer, where a search operation lasting nearly two hours was conducted.However, authorities have not disclosed whether any incriminating material was recovered. The team also searched a shop allegedly constructed by the accused on government land along the Bharewala route near the international border.Sources further revealed that investigators questioned several individuals whose bank accounts allegedly received funds sent by the ISI at Mushtaq’s instructions. In addition, DVRs containing CCTV footage from a location in the border area were seized by the team for examination.During questioning, Mushtaq reportedly confessed that he had become increasingly troubled by the pressure exerted by his ISI handler.He claimed that he had recently been assigned the task of recruiting new agents in Bikaner, Barmer, and Sri Ganganagar, a mission he considered impossible because he did not know anyone in those districts.He further stated that he had blocked his handler’s phone number several times due to the constant pressure. However, he allegedly resumed communication and activities after being persuaded by relatives residing in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan.The area verification process and further investigation are currently underway.
