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A Nagpur court has sentenced former Brahmos Aerospace engineer Nishant Agarwal to life imprisonment for spying for Pakistan's ISI. Agarwal was arrested in 2018 on charges of leaking information about India's supersonic cruise missile, Brahmos, to Pakistan's intelligence agency.
Agarwal was a senior system engineer with Brahmos Aerospace, a joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPO Mashinostroyenia. He was responsible for designing and developing the Brahmos missile, which can be launched from land, air, sea, and underwater.
According to the prosecution, Agarwal came into contact with suspected Pakistani intelligence operatives through two Facebook accounts - Neha Sharma and Pooja Ranjan. These accounts, based out of Islamabad, are believed to have been run by Pakistan's ISI.
Agarwal allegedly leaked classified information about the Brahmos missile to these operatives, including its design, capabilities, and deployment plans. The information was then passed on to Pakistan's military, which used it to develop countermeasures against the missile.
Agarwal's arrest and conviction have raised concerns about the security of India's defense secrets. The case is a reminder that even the most sensitive information can be compromised if it is not properly protected.
The Indian government has taken steps to strengthen the security of its defense secrets in recent years. These steps include increasing the use of encryption, conducting regular security audits, and providing training to government employees on how to protect classified information.
However, more needs to be done to ensure that India's defense secrets are safe from foreign intelligence agencies. The government should continue to invest in cybersecurity measures and educate its employees about the importance of protecting classified information.
Only by taking these steps can India ensure that its defense secrets remain safe from foreign threats.
Source: Life imprisonment to ex-Brahmos engineer Nishant Agarwal for spying for Pak ISI