Operation Desert Chase is a joint operation of Military Intelligence, U.P. A.T.S. and Rajasthan Police. Two civil defence employees have been arrested for passing on sensitive information to Pakistan’s spy agency I.S.I. Both have been arrested under relevant sections of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.
Importance of Operation Desert Storm
The work on “operation” began in August 2019, when Military Intelligence Lucknow, got inputs about an espionage agent near Sri Ganganagar who was passing sensitive military information to its handlers in Pakistan.
Finally, two men were captured who were passing sensitive information about Shri Ganganagar Ammunition Depot and Army’s Mahajan Field Firing Range (M.F.F.R.), Bikaner. These are strategically important military installations on the western front along the Pakistan border.
About Official Secrets Act
- The Official Secrets Act came into existence in 1923 and was retained after Independence.
- It is applicable to government servants and citizens and provides the framework for dealing with espionage, sedition, and other potential threats to the integrity of the nation.
- The law makes spying, sharing ‘secret’ information, withholding information, unauthorized use of uniforms, interference with the armed forces in prohibited/restricted areas etc. punishable offences. If proven guilty, a person may get up to 14 years’ imprisonment or a fine, or both.
- The other countries that use Official Secrets Act are Hong Kong, U.K., Myanmar, Singapore and Malaysia.
About Military Intelligence
- The Directorate of Military Intelligence (M.I.) is the Intelligence arm of the Indian Army.
- The role of Military intelligence is to provide well-timed, accurate and synchronized intelligence inputs to the Indian Army.
- It is also responsible for counterintelligence activities to detect and neutralize intelligence threats present inside the Indian Army.
Historical Background
Military intelligence was established in 1941 as a branch of the British Indian Army to gather field intelligence in World War 2. The role of Military intelligence was limited to gather tactical or field intelligence in countries bordering India. During the mid-1990s, its roles and responsibilities increased significantly to gather intelligence inputs in countries within the subcontinent and its outer periphery.
Organization
This organization consists of more than 3700 military personnel. Personnels are trained at Military Intelligence Training school and Depot, Pune.
Important Operations
After 1990s Military intelligence importance increased significantly. Military Intelligence personals moved into countries like Tajikistan and Afganistan. Military intelligence played an important role in Afganistan to overthrow the Taliban in 2001 by supporting Ahmad Shah Massoud led Northern Alliance. U.S. A led coalition forces were also supporting Northern alliance to eliminate the Taliban after the 9/11 attacks and subsequent war in Afganistan.
Military intelligence was also played an important role to eliminate insurgents groups operating from Myanmar. In the year 1998, and M.I. Operation pretended to be a Khalistan terrorist and infiltrated into a Myanmar based insurgent group, leading them to the death trap located in Andaman. This entire operation was called Operation Leech.
Image source India Today
Military Intelligence was also active in conduction operations against insurgents groups like United Liberation Front of Assam (U.L.F.A.), the United National liberation front (U.N.L.F.) and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation. With the Hasina government taking over in 2009, the leadership of U.L.F.A and U.N.L.F. was haded over to the Indian Government. In the year 2012 Military Intelligence warned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about a coup developing in Bangladeshi Army which was failed by the Bangladeshi Government.
Since 2005, Military Intelligence is active in gathering inputs and in conducting hundreds of cross border counter-terrorism strikes across Line of Control (L.O.C.), into Pakistan. Most famous is the Surgical Strike in 2016.
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