Punjab Police arrest Army jawan in Bengal for espionage

Punjab Police have arrested an Indian Army jawan from West Bengal's Alipurduar district for his alleged involvement in spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI and passing on sensitive military information to the neighbouring country, a state police officer said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Punjab resident Rajbir Singh, was nabbed from Hasimara area on Thursday, he said.

"He had allegedly shared confidential information related to Army establishments and other sensitive military details with the ISI," the senior police officer said.

A case was registered under the Official Secrets Act at Fazilka police station in Punjab on October 8, he said.

Singh was produced at Siliguri court on Friday for transit remand. Government counsel Soumitra Singh Sarkar said the accused had been on the run since the probe was launched.

The court granted Punjab Police a two-day transit remand to take him to Punjab.

As per the court's directions, Singh will have to be produced before the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Fazilka on November 1.