Odisha Crime Branch to probe ITR spying case

The Crime Branch (CB) of Odisha Police Thursday took over the probe into the alleged spying by contractual videographer Ishwar Chandra Behera at the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur in Odisha's Balasore district.

The CB will investigate the link of Behera, a contractual videographer employed by the ITR, with the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.

"A three-member team has been formed to inquire into the link of the accused with the intelligence agency and others in Odisha and outside the state," said Crime Branch ADG B.K. Sharma.

The investigating agency took over the case following an order by Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjiv Marik.

A sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) court in Balasore Wednesday granted the local police seven-day remand of Behara. He was arrested Jan 23 by the police and the Intelligence Bureau for his alleged links with an ISI agent.

Behera, who was engaged as a casual videographer in ITR since 2007, had allegedly shared vital information with the agent for money.