{"id":33415,"date":"2026-10-07T00:18:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T00:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=33415"},"modified":"2026-10-07T00:18:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T00:18:32","slug":"operation-firewall-2026-13-navy-personnel-under-scanner-in-pak-linked-espionage-probe-vijayawada-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=33415","title":{"rendered":"Operation Firewall-2026: 13 Navy personnel under scanner in Pak-linked espionage probe | Vijayawada News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134752685,imgsize-188700,width-400,height-225,resizemode-75\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg\" alt=\"13 Navy personnel under scanner in Pakistan-linked espionage probe\" title=\"Raids carried out across 10 States, UTs\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Raids carried out across 10 States, UTs\">Raids carried out across 10 States, UTs<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>VIJAYAWADA: A suspected Pakistan-linked espionage network has triggered a major counter-intelligence operation across Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country, with 18 people under the scanner, including 13 suspected Navy personnel.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>The state counter-intelligence (CI) wing has launched \u2018Operation Firewall-2026\u2019, deploying 12 teams to conduct simultaneous searches across 10 states and union territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka. The operation is focused on suspected links between the suspected individuals and Pakistan intelligence operatives (PIOs), particularly through encrypted communication platforms.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-pos=\"0\" class=\"id-r-component iIpbx undefined  &#10;        \">\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"In the net\" msid=\"134752688\" imgsize=\"327908\" resizemode=\"4\" width=\"\" title=\"\" placeholdersrc=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/83033472.cms\" offsetvertical=\"0\" placeholdermsid=\"47529300\" type=\"thumb\" class=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/photo\/imgsize-327908,msid-134752688\/in-the-net.jpg\" data-api-prerender=\"true\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Investigators are probing the alleged targeting of sensitive information related to <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/indian-navy\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Indian Navy<\/a> and defence establishments in <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/visakhapatnam\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Visakhapatnam<\/a>, a strategically important naval hub on India\u2019s eastern coast. Officials suspect that confidential information may have been collected and shared with Pakistan-linked operatives. Electronic devices were reportedly seized from several suspects during the searches. Preliminary evidence has emerged against at least two of the 18 suspects, officials said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>In Visakhapatnam, counter-intelligence unit sleuths arrested Annam Sai Varaprasad, a civilian contract driver working with the Navy, for allegedly passing sensitive information about defence establishments to a Pakistan-linked operative. Investigators are examining whether he received money in exchange for the information. Varaprasad was produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody until Oct 14.<!-- --> He was subsequently lodged in Visakhapatnam district jail.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>In a related incident, a 31-year-old Navy sailor, identified as Pradeep Mukherjee, was arrested from Coimbatore on Saturday. Mukherjee, who joined the Indian Navy in 2014 and was attending a training course in Coimbatore when he was arrested, is accused of leaking classified maritime intelligence to Pakistan-linked operatives after reportedly falling into a honeytrap.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>He was arrested following a months-long joint operation by the counter-intelligence units of AP and Tamil Nadu police. Mukherjee was brought from Coimbatore on a transit warrant and remanded in judicial custody till Oct 14. He is currently lodged in Vijayawada district jail.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>The probe against the remaining 16 suspects is continuing. Investigators are scrutinising their digital communications, financial transactions, electronic devices and possible contacts with foreign intelligence operatives as part of a wider counter-intelligence operation.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/vijayawada\/13-navy-personnel-under-scanner-in-pak-linked-espionage-probe\/articleshow\/134748461.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Raids carried out across 10 States, UTs VIJAYAWADA: A suspected Pakistan-linked espionage network has triggered a major counter-intelligence operation across Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country, with 18 people under the scanner, including 13 suspected Navy personnel.The state counter-intelligence (CI) wing has launched \u2018Operation Firewall-2026\u2019, deploying 12 teams to conduct simultaneous searches across [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33416,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/pak-linked-spy-network-puts-13-navy-personnel-under-scrutiny.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Raids carried out across 10 States, UTs VIJAYAWADA: A suspected Pakistan-linked espionage network has triggered a major counter-intelligence operation across Andhra Pradesh and other parts of the country, with 18 people under the scanner, including 13 suspected Navy personnel.The state counter-intelligence (CI) wing has launched \u2018Operation Firewall-2026\u2019, deploying 12 teams to conduct simultaneous searches across [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 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