Latest news with #intelligence
Daily Mail
33 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Britain's spies spent 20 years hunting a Russian double agent at the heart of MI6 in extraordinary global operation - and they could STILL be spying for Putin
British spies spent up to 20 years hunting a senior officer at the heart of MI6 over fears he was a Russian double agent in an extraordinary global operation. Operation Wedlock, run by MI5, saw a team of up to 35 surveillance, planning and desk officers travelling globally in a bid to catch the alleged mole, the Guardian has reported. The 'highly unusual' investigation, believed to have began in the mid-to-late 1990s before concluding in 2015, came following a tip-off from the CIA about an alleged spy. Fears had been raised that a British intelligence official could be working in London and relaying confidential information to Russia. In one particularly dangerous instance, an entire surveillance team reportedly travelled to the Middle East for more than a week, with officers sheltering in a CIA safe house. It is understood that such trip could have violated international law as the undercover officers had travelled to the country without the permission or knowledge of its own government. According to The Guardian, agents were warned that if detained, they were 'on their own' and would not receive assistance. But despite their best efforts, the specialist intelligence agency never obtained any 'conclusive proof' of a mole, meaning that there is a possibility the double agent could still be spying for Russia today. One source told the publication: '[We were told] the target was a Russian spy … The US believed he was leaking information to the Russians. He was suspect 1A. The job was taken more seriously than any other [MI5] was involved in. Wedlock eclipsed them all.' Meanwhile, another source spoke of fears amid the the organisation that they had 'another Philby on our hands', a reference to notorious MI6 double agent Kim Philby. The former Cambridge student was recruited by the Soviet Union in 1963 and eventually forced to flee to Moscow. They added that the surveillance team, based in Wandsworth, south London and working under the name of a fake security business, believed that the man was being assisted by two other individuals, also based in London. Due to the sensitivity of the probe, the officer in charge was also allegedly briefed about the task during a church. Describing the operation as 'highly unusual', the source added it was 'the longest in recent memory and probably the most expensive'. MI5's technical operations team, known as A1 at the time, are said to have broken into the alleged spy's home and planted listening and video devices. Meanwhile, an MI5 car, fitted with a camera inside of a tissue box, was also reportedly set up outside of the target's property. Vladimir Putin was running Russia's secret intelligence service, t he FSB, at one point during the lengthy investigation. In May, 'The Spy in the Archive', a new biography of Vasily Mitrokhin by Gordon Corera, was released. The former KGB agent, who defected to Britain in 1992, provided MI6 with a significant archive of KGB documents, alongside revealing Soviet espionage activities and operations However the close source warned that the success of the operation was insignificant due to a lack of evidence, with there still a strong possibility that the double agent could be at large. They added: 'MI5 never got the conclusive proof it was looking for. They said that if it was not him, then potentially MI6 "still has a mole to find"'. A Whitehall source declined to comment. In January 1963, infamous double agent Philby confessed to MI6 officer Nicholas Elliott that he had been working for the Russians since the 1930s. However, he lied about breaking off contact in 1946 and claimed fellow Cambridge spy Anthony Blunt would never work for the Russians. Philby, who died in 1988, told Mr Elliott at the time: 'Here's the scoop, as it were. I have had this particular moment in mind for 28 years almost, that conclusive proof would come out.' He then said he had a choice 'between suicide and prosecution', adding: 'This is not in any sense blackmail, but a statement of the alternatives before me.' He admitted betraying Konstantin Volkov, a KGB officer who tried to defect to the West, bringing with him details of traitors operating in British intelligence and the Foreign Office. This would have led to Philby's exposure. Instead, as a result of Philby's intervention, he was abducted by the Russians in Istanbul and executed. First falling under suspicion after fellow Cambridge spies, Donald Maclean and Guy Burgess, fled to Russia in 1951, he initially managed to dodge MI5 interrogators who said he was an 'enigma'. He described his life in MI6 as a time of 'controlled schizophrenia', adding: 'I really did feel a tremendous loyalty to MI6, I was treated very, very well in it and I made some really marvellous friends there. But the over-ruling inspiration was the other side.' In May, 'The Spy in the Archive', a new biography of Vasily Mitrokhin by Gordon Corera, was released. The former KGB agent, who defected to Britain in 1992, provided MI6 with a significant archive of KGB documents, alongside revealing Soviet espionage activities and operations. Meanwhile in April, the British public were granted access for the first time to see the suitcases and passport of one of the members of the notorious Cambridge Spy ring at the National Archives. British diplomat and Soviet double agent Guy Burgess defected to Russia on May 25, 1951, leaving behind two briefcases at a private member's club in Pall Mall. Burgess left strict instructions with staff at the Reform Club that the leather cases, one locked and another stuffed with letters, papers and photographs, should be left for Anthony Blunt, a fellow Soviet spy who was able to dispose of any incriminating papers before handing over the briefcases to MI5 when the defection emerged. Now, in an exhibition that explores MI5's 115-year history running until September 28, amateur sleuths can see a key piece of spy history as Burgess' briefcase is displayed.
NDTV
an hour ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Senior IPS Officer Parag Jain, Who Played Key Role In Op Sindoor, To Head RAW: Source
Senior IPS officer Parag Jain, credited with key intelligence operations during Operation Sindoor, has been appointed as the new head of the country's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), sources have told NDTV. After a deadly attack on tourists in picturesque Pahalagam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, New Delhi launched strikes deep into Pakistan's territory as part of what it named Operation Sindoor. India blamed Pakistan for backing the attackers who killed 26 civilians. Islamabad denied it and called for an independent probe. A ceasefire was reached on May 10 after four days of fighting. Mr Jain is currently the second senior-most officer in the RAW, after outgoing chief Ravi Sinha. He will serve a two-year tenure after taking over from Mr Sinha, who retires on June 30, the officials said. Mr Jain currently heads RAW's Aviation Research Centre (ARC), which deals with aerial surveillance, among others. A 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Punjab cadre, brings over two decades of experience within RAW to his new role. His career includes significant operational contributions during the height of terrorism in Punjab, where he served as SSP and Deputy Inspector General of Police in various districts. Within RAW, the senior IPS officer has extensively handled the Pakistan desk, with tenures in Jammu and Kashmir during the abrogation of Article 370, say sources. The officer has also served in Indian Missions in Sri Lanka and Canada. During his tenure in Canada, he monitored Khalistani terror modules operating from there, the sources further added.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Meghalaya: 2 active cadres of banned HNLC surrender before police
Shillong: Two active cadres of the banned Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) have surrendered before Meghalaya police, officials said on Friday. Police said the surrender of two cadres comes at a time when intelligence agencies are increasingly alarmed by the HNLC's pivot to online radicalisation. (Representational image) The cadres have given insights into the proscribed outfit's recruitment strategy, online radicalisation methods, and ongoing efforts to regroup across the border. The two cadres, Dibarius Jyrwa (32) and Ridor Lyngdoh Nonglait (30), both residents of Mairang, told police during preliminary interviews that they were misled by one Samuel Wahlang Pahsyntiew, a key accused in the 2024 Shillong Syndicate Bus Stand IED blast case, to join the HNLC. They admitted they crossed over to Bangladesh with him, where they were housed in a mixed Hindu-Muslim locality but could not identify the exact location. Once in Bangladesh, they were assigned cultivation duties—primarily areca nut farming—which they said had no relation to the political or ideological aims they had been sold. Disenchanted, they escaped the camp on June 20 and surrendered six days later, expressing regret for joining the outfit and a desire to return to mainstream life. The duo has since been handed over to East Khasi Hills police, where they are being debriefed further by a senior officer of the rank of SP. EWKH superintendent of police (SP), Dangsan Khyriem, confirming their surrender, said, 'The two individuals were misled and later found themselves engaged in activities that had no ideological value. Their surrender is a reflection of how disillusionment can set in when the reality doesn't match the rhetoric. We're hopeful their decision will encourage others to come forward.' Their surrender comes at a time when intelligence agencies are increasingly alarmed by the HNLC's pivot to online radicalisation. Authorities believe the group, whose top leadership remains holed up in Maulvi Bazar, Bangladesh, is attempting to rebuild its cadre base using encrypted messaging platforms, social media outreach, and cross-border propaganda—all with low overhead and high reach. These developments have gained sharper focus in the wake of a political shift in Bangladesh, following the fall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. Reports of renewed militant activity, insurgent regrouping, and potential alliance-building between outfits like HNLC, ULFA-I, and NSCN have prompted security forces to raise their guard across the Northeast. While many of these recruitment efforts have failed, officials say even a handful of successful radicalisations can pose serious security risks. 'The internet has become a force multiplier for insurgent groups. Their traditional networks may be fractured, but digital platforms now offer a wider net with fewer risks,' a senior intelligence officer said. In fact, the HNLC's growing reliance on digital radicalisation and extortion tactics was a key point in the Centre's case before the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, which recently upheld the Union Home Ministry's November 2024 notification banning the group for another five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) originally passed in 1967. It was later amended several times, with significant changes in 2004, 2008, 2013, and most notably in 2019. The Tribunal, presided by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati high court, issued its final order on May 10, 2025, after hearing arguments from Subhash Chandra Keyal, Advocate for the Union of India, and Nilutpol Syngkon, appearing for the State of Meghalaya. No representative appeared on behalf of HNLC. The Tribunal held that HNLC's continued engagement in armed insurgency, extortion, threats, and its digital outreach posed a 'clear threat to India's sovereignty and territorial integrity'. In its submission, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) cited that from November 16, 2019, to June 30, 2024, a total of 48 criminal cases had been registered against the HNLC and its cadres, including nine incidents involving IEDs. During this period, 73 cadres were arrested, three surrendered, and 14 weapons, 2,741 rounds of ammunition, 23 detonators, and one hand grenade were recovered. Despite its diminished firepower and cadre strength, authorities say the HNLC still maintains seven transit and training camps in Bangladesh. While most of these are not full-fledged facilities, their continued existence—especially in areas like Pucthichera, Phanai Punaee, Arusumer, and Islapunjee—remains a cause for concern, a senior officer of the BSF Meghalaya Frontier confirmed. Former HNLC chairman and ex-MLA Julius K Dorphang, who surrendered in 2007, had once famously declared, 'HNLC is nothing now.' But with shifting tactics and digital expansion, authorities say it would be dangerous to underestimate the outfit. 'They may be fewer in number, but they're still in the game—and adapting,' noted a senior BSF officer. As of now, both State and Central agencies have renewed their efforts to monitor sleeper cells, disrupt recruitment chains, and intensify surveillance on digital platforms. The Meghalaya Police have reiterated that while HNLC's activities in Khasi Hills remain subdued, they are 'not being taken lightly.'
Mint
an hour ago
- Politics
- Mint
Meet Parag Jain, RAW's new chief and a ‘super sleuth' who enabled precision strikes during Operation Sindoor
The central government on Saturday appointed Parag Jain, a 1989‑batch IPS officer of Punjab cadre, as the new Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) chief. He will succeed Ravi Sinha, whose current term concludes on June 30. Jain is set to assume office on July 1, 2025, for a fixed two‑year tenure, according to an ANI report. Currently heading the aviation Research Centre, which played a vital role during 'Operation Sindoor' by collecting intelligence on the Pakistani armed forces, Jain has previously served as SSP, Chandigarh and DIG Ludhiana, a HT report said. He has also represented India in Canada and Sri Lanka. During the Canada posting, he had also taken on the Khalistan ecosystem there and had repeatedly warned Delhi that it was morphing into something dangerous, the report added. Jain has also been posted in Jammu and Kashmir, where he played an important role in the Centre's counter-terrorism strategy in the strife-torn Union Territory. The HT report also said that Jain was posted in Jammu and Kashmir during the abrogation of Article 370 and Operation Balakot. According to an India Today report, Jain is known as a 'super sleuth' within intelligence circles and has a reputation for effectively combining human intelligence (HUMINT) with technical intelligence (TECHINT), a mix that officials say has been crucial to several high-stakes operations. A HT report said that Jain played an operational role during Punjab terrorism days while serving in Bhatinda, Mansa, and Hoshiarpur. One of his most lauded contributions in recent years was during Operation Sindoor, where intelligence inputs under his leadership enabled precision missile strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the India Today report added. Insiders say that years of groundwork and painstaking network-building made such pinpoint targeting possible. Jain's extensive experience on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir is also expected to weigh in his favour, the report said. Described by senior officials as methodical and discreet, Jain has held several key roles throughout his career. He was promoted to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab on January 1, 2021, though he was then serving on central deputation and thus received only notional benefits. He was also empanelled to hold posts equivalent to a central DGP, underlining his credentials for leadership in the national intelligence framework. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved his appointment on June 28, bringing an end to speculation over who would succeed Ravi Sinha, whose tenure as R&AW chief was regarded as relatively low-profile.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Parag Jain appointed new RAW chief, brings decades of intelligence expertise
NEW DELHI: Senior IPS officer Parag Jain, widely known for his expertise in intelligence gathering and affairs related to India's neighbourhood, has been appointed as the new head of the country's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), officials said on Saturday. Jain is currently the second senior-most officer in the RAW, after outgoing chief Ravi Sinha. He will serve a two-year tenure after taking over from Sinha, who retires on June 30, the officials said. Jain currently heads RAW's Aviation Research Centre (ARC), which deals with aerial surveillance, among others. Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the Punjab cadre, brings over two decades of experience within RAW to his new role. His career includes significant operational contributions during the height of terrorism in Punjab, where he served as SSP and Deputy Inspector General of Police in various districts. Within RAW, Jain has extensively handled the Pakistan desk, with tenures in Jammu and Kashmir during the abrogation of Article 370, the officials said. Jain has also served in Indian Missions in Sri Lanka and Canada. During his tenure in Canada, he monitored Khalistani terror modules operating from there.
