The Andhra Pradesh Counter Intelligence Unit has busted a Pakistani espionage network targeting the most sensitive information of the Indian Navy. As part of this massive operation titled "Operation Firewall-2026", raids were conducted across the country and two people were arrested. Officials have identified that information about key defense bases in Visakhapatnam is being shared with the enemy country.

Counter intelligence sources said that a total of 18 suspects have been kept under surveillance in this case. The presence of 13 Navy personnel is creating a sensation. 12 special teams simultaneously conducted searches in 10 states and union territories including Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Evidence has been collected that the accused were in contact with Pakistani intelligence agents through encrypted communication channels. Electronic devices seized from them are being analyzed.

One of the arrested is Annam Sai Varaprasad, a contract driver from Visakhapatnam. He is accused of passing confidential information related to the Navy and other defense establishments to a Pakistani agent in exchange for money. He has been remanded in judicial custody till October 14 and is currently in the Visakhapatnam district jail.

The second accused is Pradeep Mukherjee, a Navy employee from Coimbatore. He was found to have shared the OTP required to activate the WhatsApp account of the Pakistani agent. He was taken to Vijayawada on a transit warrant. He has also been remanded in judicial custody till October 14 and is being kept in the Vijayawada district jail. The authorities are refusing to reveal the full details of the operation, citing national security concerns. The investigation into the role of the remaining suspects is ongoing.