Civilian caught spying in Bathinda cantonment

Woman among two were arrested by Punjab Police for leaking sensitive info to Pak official

- HT Correspondent

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday expelled a staffer of the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi over his alleged links with two people from Punjab who were arrested this week on charges of involvement in espionage, people familiar with the matter said.

A statement from the external affairs ministry said the government had declared the staffer of the Pakistani mission "persona non grata for indulging in activities not in keeping with his official status in India".

The statement did not give further details of the matter.

The staffer was asked to leave India within 24 hours, and the charge d'affaires of the Pakistan high commission, Saad Warraich, was issued a demarche or a formal diplomatic protest on this issue, the statement said.

Punjab Police announced on May 11 that they had arrested two persons, including a woman, for alleged involvement in espionage activities linked to a Pakistani national posted at the high commission in New Delhi.