Kutch, Gujarat – May 24, 2025 – In a significant breach of national security, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has apprehended a 28-year-old health worker from the border district of Kutch for allegedly engaging in espionage activities on behalf of a Pakistani intelligence operative. This incident marks the third such arrest in Gujarat within the past eight months, highlighting a disturbing trend of infiltration attempts targeting India's sensitive defense infrastructure.
The accused, identified as Sahdevsinh Deepubha Gohil, was employed as a contractual multipurpose health worker at the Mata-na-Madh Primary Health Centre. According to ATS officials, Gohil was allegedly in contact with an individual named "Aditi Bharadwaj," who posed as an agent of Pakistani intelligence services. Through this connection, Gohil is accused of transmitting sensitive photographs and videos concerning the Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Navy installations in the Kutch region.
Investigations reveal that Gohil established contact with Bharadwaj via WhatsApp in mid-2023. Subsequently, he reportedly acquired a new SIM card using his Aadhaar identification and activated WhatsApp on the device, which he then provided to Bharadwaj. Through this channel, Gohil is alleged to have continued sending classified material. In exchange for the information, he purportedly received ₹40,000 in cash through an intermediary.
The ATS detained Gohil on May 1 following an investigation that involved both technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs, corroborated by central intelligence agencies. He has since been formally arrested and charged under Sections 61 (criminal conspiracy) and 148 (waging or abetting war against the government) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
This case underscores a growing concern over the exploitation of social media platforms by foreign intelligence agencies to recruit individuals within India. ATS officials noted a troubling trend wherein Pakistani operatives, often posing as women on social media, have allegedly recruited Indian nationals to gather and transmit sensitive information.
The arrest of Gohil follows two other espionage-related cases in Gujarat over the past eight months. On November 29, 2024, ATS officers apprehended Dipesh Batuk Gohel, a resident of Arambhada in Okha taluka of Devbhoomi Dwarka district. Gohel, who worked for three years on Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessels at the Okha jetty, allegedly sent classified details about those ships to a Facebook contact named “Sahima,” who claimed to be a Pakistani naval officer.
In another instance, the Gujarat ATS arrested two men from Kutch in May 2010 on charges of spying for Pakistan. One of them, Ibrahim Adam Sama, worked for the Military Engineering Services (MES). The ATS seized several classified Army documents and maps from his residence.
These incidents highlight the persistent efforts by foreign intelligence agencies to infiltrate India's defense establishments through various means, including digital platforms and personal contacts. The use of social engineering tactics, such as posing as women on social media to establish contact and build trust, has emerged as a particularly concerning method of recruitment.
The ATS and other security agencies continue to monitor and investigate such activities to safeguard national security. Authorities urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious contacts or activities that may compromise the country's safety and integrity.
As the investigation into Gohil's activities progresses, the ATS is working to uncover any additional networks or individuals involved in espionage activities within the region. The agency emphasizes the importance of public awareness and cooperation in identifying and preventing such threats to national security.
The recent arrests serve as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of espionage threats in the digital age and the need for robust counterintelligence measures to protect the nation's interests.
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