High-Level Spy Ring Uncovered in India; 7 Held

An espionage ring within high levels of the Indian government has been discovered by government security investigators, and seven people were arrested Friday, Indian news agencies reported.

Five government officials, including an assistant to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s personal secretary, and two businessmen were arrested, the United News of India reported. The other four officials included two defense employees, a deputy secretary and an undersecretary, the agency said.

The fact that arrests had been made was first announced by Gandhi in a speech Friday at a joint session of the Indian Parliament.

“It came to the government’s notice that certain employees in sensitive positions were suspected to be indulging in activities detrimental to national interest,” Gandhi said. “Some arrests have been made.”

Gandhi asked the members of the Rajya Sabha (upper house) and Lok Sabha (lower house) not to press him for details of the espionage case. When one opposition member of the upper house, a Sikh, implored him to give more information, Gandhi declined.

“At this stage it might hamper these investigations,” he said.

Neither Gandhi nor any of the national news agencies gave any hint Friday of the nature of the alleged spy ring, although there was widespread speculation that the case involves troubled Punjab state, where Sikhs constitute a majority.

Gandhi’s personal press secretary, Sharada Prassad, declined to comment, citing national security.

In speeches at the conclusion of his campaign for election last month, Gandhi hammered repeatedly at the theme of unnamed “foreign forces at work to destabilize India.” Most of these comments were viewed as veiled references to Punjab and the alleged role of Pakistan in stirring up tensions in that region.

After the Oct. 31 assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two members of her personal security staff, both Sikhs, the government launched an investigation of Sikhs in sensitive positions at high levels of government. The prime minister’s statements before the joint session of Parliament suggested that the arrests may have come as a result of this investigation.

“I want to take the house into confidence on an important development,” Gandhi said. “As you know, every government has to exercise vast vigilance in regard to the protection of confidential information and intelligence.” It was while “reviewing the security procedures” that the alleged espionage ring was discovered,he said.