Samba spy scandal

Last updated

The Samba Military Spy Scandal [1] [2] was a Cold War military intelligence program which eventually emerged as a scandal in 1979. According to the Indian Army, the military program was run by the MI of Pakistan to seek information on the Indian Army's deposition in Western India. The Indian Army and associated intelligence agencies led the arrest of 50 active duty Army officers and personnel on suspicion of working for the Military Intelligence of the Pakistan Army from Samba in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir. Samba, Jammu is a sleepy town in the Jammu region bordering Pakistan. The revelation of scandal led to a serious breach in foreign relations of India and Pakistan. [3]

Contents

Between 24 August 1978 and 23 January 1979, 50-odd persons who had worked in the 168 Infantry Brigade and its subordinate units at Samba, 40 km from Jammu on the international border, were arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan at the instance of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (MI). Its investigations involved practically the whole officer cadre of the Brigade. Those arrested included a Brigadier, three Lieutenant Colonels, and a number of Majors, Captains, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs), and personnel of other ranks, plus 11 civilians who had worked in the Samba sector. They were all taken into custody at the instance of two self-confessed Pakistani spies who worked as gunners in the Indian Army - Sarwan Dass and Aya Singh.

Guilty or not guilty

The whole story, written by A. G. Noorani, was published in Frontline . The book The Price of Loyalty, written by Captain Ranbir Singh Rathaur, is a first hand account of the brutal and inhuman torture inflicted on the officers and men who were falsely implicated in the Samba Spy Case. [4] In 2018, Major Nirmal Ramchand Ajwani, Major A K Rana, Captain Diwan, Captain R S Rathore, and Captain J S Yadav, claimed that they were framed under manipulated documentation and military intelligence power abuse, and demanded an independent probe. [5]

Court proceeding

The Delhi High Court gave judgement in favour of the accused but the Supreme Court overturned the Delhi High Court's judgement. The accused lost their case in the Supreme Court of India on 6 March 2014. But they kept moving to courts for justice. [6] In 2019, over 40 years of the alleged scandal, the Delhi High Court, sought a response from the Government of India following a petition filed by former Captains, Ashok Kumar Rana and Ranbir Singh Rathaur. [7] [8]

Controversies

The Samba spy scandal still remains a controversial issue. In December 1994, Sarwan Das swore an affidavit and appeared at a press conference to admit that he had falsely implicated the men. In December 1990, Aya Singh was killed while crossing the India-Pakistan border. The falsely implicated victims received justice only in December 2000, and not full either. [9] [10]

According to Major Navdeep Singh, the entire case is a debacle as the case was based on Aya Singh's statement where Singh claimed Captain Nagial was the initiator of the scam but a Court Martial acquitted Captain Nagial. Major Singh also brought some major issues of the case; including: Aya Singh, who was killed while trying to cross Indo-Pak border, can not be a reliable witness; Havildar Ram Swarup's confessional statement also built the case while Ram Swarup died of torture after interrogation; Swaran Dass made an under oath statement in 1994 in which Dass was forced to implicate innocent army personnel. Major Singh also raised a statement, "When the foundation itself was faulty, there was no reason for proceeding in the matter." [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948</span> 1947–1948 war between India and Pakistan

The Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948, also known as the first Kashmir war, was a war fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four Indo-Pakistani wars between the two newly independent nations. Pakistan precipitated the war a few weeks after its independence by launching tribal lashkar (militias) from Waziristan, in an effort to capture Kashmir and to preempt the possibility of its ruler joining India.

The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) is the foreign intelligence agency of India. The agency's primary function is gathering foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation, advising Indian policymakers, and advancing India's foreign strategic interests. It is also involved in the security of India's nuclear programme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Basantar</span> Battle of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The Battle of Basantar, also known as the Battle of Shakargarh or Battle of Barapind, was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won a hard-fought battle that secured this area in the Punjab/Jammu sector. The name Battle of Basantar actually encompasses the entire gamut of battles and skirmishes fought in the Shakargarh sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shabeg Singh</span> Sikh dissident Indian Army officer (1925–1984)

Shabeg Singh, PVSM, AVSM, was an Indian military officer. He had previously served in the Indian Army but later joined the militant movement of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of British India</span> Award

The Order of British India was an order of merit established in 1837 by the East India Company for "long, faithful and honourable service". The company's powers were removed after the Indian Mutiny, and the Order was incorporated into the British Honours System in 1859. The order became obsolete in 1947, after the partition of British India into the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mansurul Haq</span> Pakistani admiral

Admiral Mansurul HaqNI(M) HI(M) SBt BJSN was a senior officer of the Pakistan Navy who was forcibly retired from his service in 1997 on the allegations leveled against him in the corruption and kickbacks resulting during the technology transfer of submarines from France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sagat Singh</span> Indian Army officer (1919–2001)

Lieutenant General Sagat Singh, PVSM was a General Officer in the Indian Army, notable for his participation in the liberation of Goa and later in Indo-Pakistani war of 1971. He held many commands and staff appointments throughout his career.

Ghatak Platoons are special operations capable reconnaissance platoons consisting of Shock troopers these are present in every infantry battalion of the Indian Army. Ghatak is a Sanskrit word meaning "killer" or "lethal". Their name was given to them by General Bipin Chandra Joshi. They act as shock troops and spearhead assaults ahead of the battalion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samba district</span> District of Jammu and Kashmir administered by India

Samba district is an administrative district in the Jammu division of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in the disputed Kashmir region. It was formed in 2006. Before its formation, this area was part of Jammu district and Kathua district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Directorate of Military Intelligence (India)</span> Intelligence arm of the Indian Army

The Directorate of Military Intelligence (M.I.) is the Intelligence arm of the Indian Army. The primary mission of military intelligence is to provide timely, relevant, accurate, and synchronized intelligence support to tactical, operational and strategic-level needs of the army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">V. K. Singh</span> Indian Politician and 23rd Army chief

General Vijay Kumar Singh(retd), PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC is an Indian politician and a former four-star General in the Indian Army. He is former Minister of State in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Ministry of Civil Aviation in the Second Modi ministry. He previously served as Minister of State for External Affairs, Minister of State for Development of the North-Eastern Region and Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation in the First Modi ministry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navdeep Singh (Ashoka Chakra)</span>

Lieutenant Navdeep Singh, AC was a Ghatak Platoon Commander of 15 Maratha Light Infantry regiment in the Indian Army.

The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), intelligence agency of Pakistan has been involved in running military intelligence programs in India, with one of the subsections of its Joint Intelligence Bureau (JIB) department devoted to perform various operations in India. The Joint Signal Intelligence Bureau (JSIB) department has also been involved in providing communications support to Pakistani agents operating in Indian-administered Kashmir. The Joint Intelligence North section of the Joint Counter-Intelligence Bureau (JCIB) wing deals particularly with India. In the 1950s the ISI's Covert Action Division was alleged for supplied arms to insurgents in Northeast India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–2015 India–Pakistan border skirmishes</span> Series of armed skirmishes between India and Pakistan

The 2014–2015 India–Pakistan border skirmishes were a series of armed clashes and exchanges of gunfire between the Indian Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers: the paramilitary gendarmerie forces of both nations, responsible for patrolling the India-Pakistan border) along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region and the borders of the Punjab. Tensions began in mid-July 2014, with both countries' military officials and media reports giving different accounts of the incidents and accusing each other of initiating the hostilities. The incident sparked outrage in both countries and harsh reactions by the Indian and Pakistani militaries and the Indian and Pakistani governments.

Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav is an Indian national who has been incarcerated in Pakistan since 2016. The Pakistani government alleges that he is a spy for the Research and Analysis Wing, India's intelligence agency, and was arrested in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. The Indian foreign ministry says that he was kidnapped from Iran and illegally rendered to Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rajinder Singh (brigadier)</span> Army officer

Brigadier Rajinder Singh Jamwal, MVC, also remembered as the Saviour of Kashmir, was an officer in the Jammu and Kashmir State Forces. He briefly served as the Chief of Staff of State Forces and died fighting during the First Kashmir War. Rajinder Singh and his small contingent of about 100 men successfully delayed the advance of a 6000 strong force of Pakistani tribal raiders near Uri for several days, during which the Maharaja of Kashmir acceded to India and the Indian forces air-lifted for the defence of Kashmir.

Lieutenant General Kashmir Singh Katoch, MC was an Indian Army General and military adviser to the Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir, officiating as the Chief of Staff of the State Forces during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He later served as the Vice Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.

Yash Paul Kundal is an Indian politician belonging to Indian National Congress in Jammu and Kashmir. He was the state president of Young Panthers, the youth wing of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party. He has twice been a Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, and was the Minister of Animal and Sheep Husbandry from 2002 to 2008. On 8 April 2022, he joined Aam Admi Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1947 Poonch rebellion</span> Political rebellion in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948

In spring 1947, an uprising against the Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir broke out in the Poonch jagir, an area bordering the Rawalpindi district of West Punjab and the Hazara district of the North-West Frontier Province in the future Pakistan. It was driven by grievances such as high taxes, the Maharaja's neglect of World War veterans, and above all, Muslim nationalism with a desire to join Pakistan. The leader of the rebellion, Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, escaped to Lahore by the end of August 1947 and persuaded the Pakistani authorities to back the rebellion. In addition to the backing, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan authorised an invasion of the state, by the ex-Indian National Army personnel in the south and a force led by Major Khurshid Anwar in the north. These invasions eventually led to the First Kashmir War fought between India and Pakistan, and the formation of Azad Kashmir provisional government. The Poonch jagir has since been divided across Azad Kashmir, administered by Pakistan and the state of Jammu and Kashmir, administered by India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundar Singh (soldier)</span>

Subedar Major and Honorary Captain Sundar Singh, AC was an Indian Army officer who was awarded India's highest peace time military decoration Ashoka Chakra. Lance Naik Sunder Singh was a great soldier of 4th Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles Punjab.

References

  1. ↑ Sinha, Chinki; Kapoor, Coomi; Kapoor, Coomi; Sinha, Chinki (7 March 2011). "33-yr-old autopsy report rakes up Samba spy case skeletons". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  2. ↑ "Hidden Truth Ep I: Part 1-The Hidden Truth-Weekend Shows -TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos". www.timesnow.tv. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010.
  3. ↑ Sharma, Arun (6 November 2016). "Samba spy case: 'How much can a soldier reveal? He doesn't even know all about his unit'" . The Indian Express. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  4. ↑ "The Price of Loyalty - Samba Spy Scandal". Archived from the original on 14 August 2003.
  5. ↑ Sura, Ajay (28 April 2018). "Restore our honour: 5 veterans named in Samba spy case | Chandigarh News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  6. ↑ Naveen, P. (3 September 2018). "'If there's evidence, shoot us on street, otherwise hang those who framed us' | Bhopal News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  7. ↑ Singh, Soibam Rocky (12 April 2019). "Declassify 'Samba Spy' case files: plea in HC" . The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  8. ↑ Singh Chhina, Man Aman (28 April 2018). "Samba spy scandal: Accused ex-Army officers demand impartial inquiry" . The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  9. ↑ Gupta, Sonal (19 April 2019). "40 Yrs On, Samba Spy Scandal Back In Court: All You Need to Know". TheQuint. The Quint . Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  10. ↑ "Justice gone awry". Archived from the original on 21 June 2002.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ↑ Singh, Navdeep (28 November 2020). "Why we need our Farr and Flipper to undo miscarriage of military justice". Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.