J&K: Journalist held for spying

Jammu, October 27, 2009
The Jammu Police arrested a journalist working for a local news agency on charge of spying for Pakistani agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Farroq Ahmad Ganai, who worked for The News Agency of Kashmir, allegedly lived a double life. To the outside world, he was hard-working journalist with a nose for news. However, according to the police, Ganai was actually a spy working for the enemy.

He was also the editor-in-chief of a magazine, The Inner Voice. He had held the position for four years.

Ganai, who hails from Durru village in Anantnag, was taken into custody from his office at Jammu's Jewel Chowk on Monday. The police said he worked for Pakistan's field intelligence unit.

According to police, 42-year-old Ganai was spying for two years. He was living in Jammu for 20 years. He was arrested on a tip-off from the army's military intelligence.

Ganai worked as a strategic source for the ISI, passing on vital information. He allegedly passed on information about roads being built by the army, hydro-projects and railway tracks, bridges and potential targets in Jammu city.

Ganai had travelled to Pakistan on journalistic assignments and that is how he got in touch with the ISI. He allegedly used Internet to send information to his minders across the border. (Headlines Today)