A recent case of espionage in Udupi, Karnataka, has forcefully demonstrated that threats to India’s national security are not confined to any one religious community, directly countering the systematic campaign that often questions the patriotism of Indian Muslims.
Two Hindu men from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Rohit (29) and Santri (37), were arrested in Udupi on November 20 for allegedly sharing sensitive, classified information about Indian Navy ships with handlers in Pakistan. The arrests come in the backdrop of continuous political rhetoric that seeks to polarize public opinion by casting suspicion on a minority community.
Doval’s Controversial Claim Resurfaces
The Udupi arrests have brought renewed attention to a critical and often-denied statement attributed to National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval. According to reports, a video clip traced back to a 2014 lecture at the Australia India Institute captures Mr. Doval making a stunning revelation: that a significant “more than 80%” of the individuals registered or arrested for spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) since 1947 are from the Hindu community.
While the exact figures are unverified and Doval reportedly later denied the widely circulated claim, its re-emergence serves as a powerful reference point, proving that those who betray the nation come from all communities, including the majority.
Details of the Udupi Breach
The two accused, Rohit and Santri, both from Uttar Pradesh’s Sultanpur district, were working as contractual insulators for Shushma Marine Private Limited, a sub-contractor of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
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Rohit, the main accused, had previously worked at Kochi Shipyard and moved to Udupi six months prior.
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Santri was employed at CSL and allegedly obtained sensitive information from his workplace.
Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar confirmed that Rohit had been illegally sharing classified details about naval ships under construction via social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook for approximately 18 months, allegedly receiving money multiple times for his actions. The information shared included classified details about naval vessels being built in both Kochi and Udupi, posing a direct threat to India’s sovereignty and internal security.
The complaint was officially lodged by the CEO of Udupi Cochin Shipyard on November 19, leading to a case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Official Secrets Act. Both men have been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody, and national investigation agencies are expected to join the probe.
The Need to Focus on Real Threats
This incident serves as a crucial reminder that security threats are often driven by greed, ideology, or compromise, rather than religious identity. The systematic campaign led by Hindutva extremist elements to doubt the patriotism of Muslims is exposed as a distraction from the genuine, diverse, and often homegrown threats to national security. The arrest of two individuals from the majority community for betraying the country underscores the imperative for law enforcement and the public to abandon communal stereotypes and focus on the integrity of the individuals involved, regardless of their background.