Army Major caught spying for Pak, tip-off came from US

[RAM]

Espionage taint on Army establishment


A major espionage scandal stares Indian Army in its face with the National Investigating Agency (NIA) revealing that the computer hard disc of a Major was "tampered" with at the Army headquarters in Delhi before being sent to the CFSL, Hyderabad, for laboratory test. "It seems to be a big spy ring," said a senior security official. "It's shocking that certain files were deleted after the hard disc was seized by the Army following suspicion that the Major was involved in some spying activities on behalf of Pakistan."
The computer hard disc contained nearly 2,500 highly sensitive files some of which dealt with about the Strategic Forces Command, minutes of some classified meetings of top Army commanders besides deployment and contingency plans, sources said. The agencies were alarmed as the files had details about the deployment of the troops on the borders and planned troop movements, which is classified information.

"Now, the question is how a young Major could have access to such information," a security official asked. "The deletion of files after the seizure of hard disc leaves no doubt that he was acting not alone and more persons collaborated with him," he added.

The computer is still at the Army headquarters and the hard disc was removed and sent to the CFSL to ascertain if the Major was right in claiming that he had become victim of 'hacking'.

The Major, an officer of the Bihar Regiment, posted in Andaman, was questioned in early May when the US intelligence agencies alerted India about leakage of sensitive information to the ISI. The source of the leakage was tracked to the officer who said his computer was hacked. At that point of time, the Army ruled out espionage angle.

However, the detailed analysis of the officer's personal computer by the Hyderabad-based laboratory indicated that certain sensitive data was deleted after the machine was seized by the authorities. This led the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Military Intelligence to summon the Major to Delhi again on Monday for further questioning.

Stressing the point that the questioning of the Major was a joint effort, sources said the Military Intelligence was not aware about the tampering of the computer, adding the machine was sealed jointly by the two agencies.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/261214/Espionage-taint-on-Army-establishment.html

 

[RAM]

from a diff source

Espionage cloud over Army


Nearly a month after an Indian Army Major was accused of transferring classified data to a Pakistani ISI operative, the Major has been called to New Delhi on Monday (June 7) for questioning again by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Military Intelligence.

On its part the Army has clarified that it was a case of hacking, the probe had shown no evidence of espionage, and that the officer was back on duty.

The Army, now, claims that the hard disk was sent for analysis and will be coming back to the capital after analysis & because of this the Major has been asked to return.

The Army Major is under a cloud of suspicion because Lab tests proved that there were atleast 2 attempts to delete files from his computer. Secondly attempts were made to delete files when computer was with investigator and then the Major's computer had total of 3,000 highly classified or secret documents and he hasn't yet revealed source of secret documents.

The Army has released a statement saying that the Army Major has been called to the Capital for questioning as his computers' hard disk was sent for analysis and this hard disk is being brought back after analysis tomorrow.


http://www.timesnow.tv/Espionage-cloud-over-Army/articleshow/4346800.cms

 

[san]

For last few days, army is in news for all th wrong doings. Sexual harressment, fake encounters, spying, corruption and what not;

 

[RAM]

More Army officers suspected to be in 'espionage' ring

NEW DELHI: Not convinced with the Army's theory blaming "hacking" for the transfer of nearly 2,500 sensitive military files from the computer of an Army Major posted in Andamans to a Pakistan-based ISI operative, the NIA is now probing the possible involvement of other Army officers in "supplying" the highly classified data to the Major.

The scope of the NIA probe is being widened for two reasons. First, most of the 2,500 files recovered from Major's personal computer related to commands other than his own, such as Western and Northern Commands, and put out strategic details such as deployment patterns and operational contingency plans. There is no way a Major, that too posted with the Andamans and Nicobar tri-service command, would have access to such information.

The second reason why the NIA is strongly suspecting the involvement of more Army officers in what could be an "espionage ring" is because its sleuths discovered that some files were deleted from the Major's computer after it was seized by the military authorities here and was in their "safe custody." Though the CFSL did recover the nearly 2,500 files deleted by the Major before the hard disk was seized, it has been unable to trace back the nearly 600 files that were deleted "in a far more professional manner" while the Major was still being questioned by the Army. Army sources, however, denied any files were deleted while the computer was in its custody. "More people could be involved," a senior MHA official said while pointing out that they may have been source of the sensitive information that the Major could not have accessed all by himself. These people are now also suspected to be behind the deletion of files after the computer was taken away from the Major. "We are probing as to who had access to the computer when it was in Army's custody," the official said while noting that hacking by an external agency like ISI was not possible in this case as the computer was never connected to the internet.

The NIA is believed to also be questioning the Major for more links in the alleged espionage racket. Counter-intelligence has conveyed to the Home Ministry that action should be taken against the Major, an officer of the Bihar regiment posted with the 108 Brigade. It were the US intelligence experts who, while tracking an ISI computer based in Pakistan, tipped off their Indian counterparts on how huge amounts of classified Indian Army data were being fed into it from a computer in the Andamans. While the officer maintains that his computer had been hacked by the ISI through a malware, all files from the hard disk had been deleted by the Major himself before it was seized. Laboratory tests also confirmed that a second attempt was made to delete the files while the Major's computer was in the custody of the authorities.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com...-be-in-espionage-ring/articleshow/6021974.cms

 

[RAM]

NIA likely to register a case against Army Major

An Army major, under scanner of central security agencies over leak of information from his computer, is likely to be booked by the NIA soon.Official sources said the probe till now clearly establishes the violation of stringent Official Secrets Act (OSA) as the Major had over 2,500 defence presentations on his personal computer much beyond his sphere of work. "The NIA is likely to register a case soon," sources said. Asked if a case under OSA could be pressed against the Major, they said, "Violation of OSA is clearly there. As and when investigations are completed, more cases including espionage could also be registered."

The computer is currently with the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad. The major, posted in Andaman and Nicobar Island, came under the scanner after it was found that his personal computer was transmitting information to Pakistani intelligence agency. The tip-off on the information leak from the Major's computer came from US intelligence agencies in April during their probe into the links of arrested terrorist and Mumbai terror attack planner David Coleman Headley. While initially the Army had claimed that it was just a case of "hacking", the investigators including the NIA are now probing it from all angles including espionage involving more officers.
"Earlier, the Major said he was only a keen person and had kept some files beyond his sphere of work. But forensic report of the seized computer clearly shows that there were over 2,500 presentations, some of which were secret and even top secret," sources said adding, "The files were way beyond his sphere of work."
Sources said the information that the Major possessed were only privy to officers of Brigadier and above involved in operational matters. They said the Military Intelligence is trying to find who all could have given him the files as it was impossible for a Major rank officer to have access to all the files.
Sources, however, clarified that the files could have been handed over to the Major in good faith also. The case first came to light early last month and the Major after initial questioning was sent back. But after the forensic report came out, he was called back to the national capital and is being questioned again. The forensic report also mentions that some files were deleted from the computer on a particular date after it was seized by authorities.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...-case-against-Army-Major/Article1-554990.aspx

 

[mehrotraprince]

This report suggests that Indian and US intelligence are now collaborating more, good for us.
We need more sophisticated softwares for our military, scientific, research and government sectors.

 

[RAM]

One may be more perturbed by these recent Espionage press reports as it indicates not a single incident but a string of various episodes in the last few months. For eg: Madhuri case,a recent Navy employee,s involvement and this one, all suggests the Human vulnerability to tresspass the primary requisite of integrity and loyality towards Nation for personal or political gains.And if you take this case and if true what the press is reporting,its really alarming to know the magnitude of information being passed to the adversary,the pertinent question pops up is..How ethical/effective our approach is to safeguard our interests /technical data in the hands of the enduser? Are we up to date with the contemporary Technical and mortal challenges faced by the Defence institutions?

 

[nandu]

Pakistani server used to hack Indian Army officer's computer
2010-06-14 21:20:00

Indian security agencies have tracked a server in Pakistan that was used to hack the computer of an Indian Army major based in the Andamans who is being questioned by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

According to sources, the computer of the army officer containing some sensitive information was being accessed from two proxy servers.

The location of one the servers has been tracked to Pakistan while there is some confusion over the origin of the other server, which is also likely to be based in that country, the sources said Monday.

They said the actual location of the second server is being examined as the hackers have been using proxy IP addresses through various internet gateways of European countries.

The sources said a forensic report has also pointed out that some key files and e-mails were deleted from the computer after it was seized by authorities.

The army major came under the scanner after a tip-off from US intelligence agencies examining suspicious internet traffic during their probe related to Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley. The American agencies found a user in Andaman and Nicobar Islands dispatching to a computer in Pakistan a picture of a serving Indian brigadier who was attending a training programme in the US.

Indian agencies quickly zeroed in on the officer and a quiet operation was planned to call him to New Delhi. The major has pleaded ignorance.

The army and the defence ministry have ruled out espionage, saying it was a cyber security breach.

However, the NIA is probing if there was a deliberate leak of information from the major's computer.

Official sources close to the investigation process say the probe till now points towards the violation of stringent Official Secrets Act as the major had over 2,500 defence presentations on his personal computer, much beyond his sphere of work. Some of these files, the sources said, are 'secret and even top secret'.

The computer is currently with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad.

The major has been called twice to the national capital and has been detained for questioning.

http://sify.com/news/pakistani-serv...cer-s-computer-news-national-kgovucfdhhj.html

 

[RAM]

Computer hacking: Twosenior army officers under scanner

Indian probe agencies are looking into the possible role of two senior army officers in a suspected espionage ring, following the hacking of the computer of a major based in the Andamans, sources said Tuesday.
The sources said a joint team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Military Intelligence (MI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) has expanded its probe into what has so far been termed only as a 'cyber security breach'. The NIA is probing if there was a deliberate leak of information from the major's computer.

Two senior officers of the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) could be called for questioning soon, the sources said, but refused to give their rank or designation.

The revelation comes a day after the security agencies tracked a server in Pakistan that was used to hack the computer of an Indian Army major in the Andamans who is also being questioned by the NIA, MI and IB.

The sources said the computer of the major had some sensitive information in over 2,500 defence presentations. The files in his computer have been found to be beyond his sphere of work and some of the files, the sources said, are 'secret and even top secret'.

The sources said the suspected senior officers would be questioned on how a major, a middle-level officer, had access to sensitive information that had nothing to do with his assignment.

Andaman and Nicobar deployment is part of the tri-service command where all the three services work as one unit under the overall command of the IDS.

According to the sources, the computer of the major was being accessed from two proxy servers. The location of one of the servers has been tracked to Pakistan while there is some confusion over the origin of the other server, which is also likely to be based in that country.

The sources said a forensic report has also pointed out that some key files and e-mails were deleted from the computer after it was seized by authorities.

The major came under the scanner after a tip-off from US intelligence agencies examining suspicious internet traffic during their probe related to Lashkar-e-Taiba operative David Headley. The American agencies found a user in Andaman and Nicobar Islands dispatching to a computer in Pakistan a picture of a serving Indian brigadier who was attending a training programme in the US.

Indian agencies quickly zeroed in on the officer and a quiet operation was planned to call him to New Delhi. The major has pleaded ignorance.

The major has been called twice to the national capital and has been detained for questioning. His computer is currently with the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad.
http://sify.com/news/computer-hacki...-under-scanner-news-national-kgpvklijbef.html

 

[Oracle]

Major in the dock for sending sensitive data to ISI

FBI to help in Port Blair case, MoD looks at early court martial for Major; mails were deleted from account days after computer was seized

New Delhi: Indian agencies have sought the help of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in forensically establishing the nature of transmission of classified defence documents from the computer of Major Shantanu Dey to systems suspected to belong to the ISI in Pakistan.

The first alert in the case - now jointly probed by the Military Intelligence (MI), the National Investigating Agency (NIA) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) - came from the FBI. Sources said the FBI's expertise was needed as an early forensic examination established that mails were deleted from the officer's computer even after it was seized. The deletion of mails from his Rediffmail account was made days after his computer and hard disk were seized and sealed by a team sent by the MI to Port Blair, where the officer was posted.

Following a report in The Indian Express (May 6, 2010), the Army and the Ministry of Defence played it down, dismissing it as a case of "hacking". The Ministry was subsequently provided with a CD of around 20,000 pages of documents downloaded from the officer's computer. Many of these documents and presentations were of a classified nature and a majority of them, not supposed to be in his possession.

Top MI officials who briefed The Indian Express on the case explained that they were currently indexing the documents, after which they will be dispatched to the intelligence wings of the Navy, Air Force and Army for classification and sourcing.

A team of three Defence officers have been deputed for the inquiry even as the Major himself is being questioned daily by officials of different agencies. The officer is understood to have been reiterating that he had collected the presentations and papers since he was preparing for his Staff College examination, due in September.

While MI officials deny that other senior MoD officers may be implicated in the case, this might well be the case when the custodians of the secret/ classified presentations and documents found on Major Dey's computer are identified.

Senior officials in the Ministry of Home Affairs - who have been pressing the Ministry of Defence for quick action in the Port Blair case -said that they have been orally told that court martial proceedings in the case would commence soon against the Major for possessing classified documents he is not authorised to keep and storing it on a computer which is linked to the internet. This is even as the final forensic report from Hyderabad, which will establish the nature of deletions, both before and after the inquiry began, is awaited.

Highly-placed intelligence sources also told The Indian Express that besides the original dispatch from the Major's computer to Pakistan, there is confirmation of at least two or three more dispatches to the same IP address. Interestingly, while the IP address belonging to the ISI was under the scanner of US agencies following leads given by Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Headley, MI officials say that they too had the IP address listed as part of a counter-intelligence exercise but did not detect the suspect transmission of messages from Port Blair in time.

http://news.in.msn.com/internalsecurity/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4046511