Odisha Police get ISI Agent's Seven Day Remand

Bhubaneswar, Jan 28 (IANS) An Odisha court Wednesday allowed the state police to take Ishwar Chandra Behera on seven-day remand to inquire into his alleged role in passing vital information of the Chandipur ITR to Pakistan intelligence agency ISI.

A number of missiles have been launched from the Chandipur's Integrated Test Range (ITR), including the nuclear-capable Akash.

The sub-divisional judiciary magistrate (SDJM) court of Balesore district allowed police to take Behera (35), a contractual cameraman engaged at the ITR, Chandipur, for further interrogation.

Police had sought 14-day remand of the accused who was arrested Jan 23 on charges of spying for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

Behera, a native of Kantipur village in Mayurbhanj district, was arrested by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and local police after keeping him under surveillance for a long time.

He was employed as a cameraperson on contractual basis in 2007 at the ITR and was allegedly spying for the ISI for 8-10 months.

"We will try to find out what information the accused had passed on and who are involved with him," said a police official.

Inspector General (eastern range) of Police Asit Panigrahi said Behera was in constant touch with his handler over phone and had met him at least 10 times during trips to Kolkata.

A case has been registered under Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 121 A (treason) against Behera at the Chandipur police station.