Mahendra Prasad, the manager of a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) guest house in Jaisalmer’s Chandan area, was detained on Monday night, August 4, on suspicion of spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrest, near the strategically critical Pokhran Field Firing Range, has raised alarms over the potential compromise of sensitive military information.
Prasad, a resident of Almora, Uttarakhand, has been managing the DRDO guest house since 2018. The facility, a key hub for India’s top defence scientists, senior Army officers, and experts, supports missile and weapons testing at Pokhran, a site of significant national security importance. Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare confirmed that Prasad is suspected of leaking classified details about military operations, including war exercises and weapons trials, to Pakistani operatives via mobile phone communications.
Security agencies began monitoring Prasad after detecting suspicious calls from Pakistan on his device. “He was detained on Monday, and a joint interrogation by security and intelligence agencies is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, to uncover the extent of the breach,” Shivhare stated. Investigators are analyzing his mobile device, expecting to uncover critical clues about the scope and duration of his alleged espionage activities.
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The detention comes amid heightened concerns over ISI activities in Rajasthan, which shares a 1,070-km border with Pakistan—the longest of any Indian state. The region, home to three major airbases and multiple military installations, is a prime target for Pakistani intelligence. From Hindumalkot in Sri Ganganagar to Bakhasar in Barmer, Indian agencies remain vigilant, having previously apprehended individuals like Shakur Khan and Pathan Khan for similar espionage activities.
The DRDO guest house’s proximity to the Pokhran range amplifies the gravity of the breach, as it hosts personnel involved in sensitive defence projects. The case underscores the persistent threat of espionage in India’s border regions, particularly in Rajasthan, where ISI operatives exploit the area’s strategic significance to gather intelligence on military movements and installations.
Authorities are probing how long Prasad may have been in contact with ISI handlers and the full extent of the information compromised. This incident highlights the urgent need for enhanced counterintelligence measures to safeguard India’s national security in vulnerable border areas.
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