Srinagar, April 30: The intelligence agencies have interrogated a doctor couple with whom arrested Indian diplomat Madhuri Gupta had stayed in Sunderbani town last month.
The couple were questioned after it emerged that Gupta, who was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan, had visited sensitive areas near the Line of Control ( LoC) in Rajouri district.
Gupta is suspected to have carried with her to Pakistan vital defence information about deployment of troops and installations on this side of the LoC. The couple, Khem Raj Sharma and Champa Sharma, were reportedly interrogated for about two hours by intelligence personnel, including those of the Research and Analysis Wing ( RAW).
The couple is posted at the government hospital at Sunderbani, a strategic town that has become one of the most favourite infiltration points for Pakistani militants.
The intelligence agencies were investigating the purpose behind Gupta’s visit to the remote town in the border district on March 28 and 29.
The couple is learnt to have told the intelligence personnel that Gupta came to the town with a common friend Dr Prem Lata Gupta. They are also learnt to have told the investigators that the diplomat came via Wagah border ( Amritsar) in a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV registered in Islamabad that she drove herself to Rajouri, nearly 180 km from Jammu.
The couple was introduced to Gupta in 1979 in Delhi by Dr Prem Lata and they became good friends.
The couple is learnt to have told the intelligence agencies they were good friends of Gupta but “ never knew that she was spying for Pakistan”. Champa told the investigators that she and Prem Lata studied in Lady Hardinge Medical College in Delhi where they became friends. Her brother is an army officer posted in Meerut.
“ The number plate of the car had ‘ Islamabad’ written on it because of which two army intelligence officers grew suspicious and visited our home. But Madhuri showed them some papers after which they left,” Khem Raj Sharma told the investigators.
He added, “ Madhuri and Prem Lata stayed with us for two days at our residence in Jawahar Nagar area of Sunderbani and visited many nearby places.” Sharma told investigators they were not in regular contact with Gupta and came to know about her impending visit to Rajouri by a phone call from her from Islamabad a fortnight before her visit.
In the meantime, the Delhi Police and intelligence agencies questioned many persons, including a foreign national.
Sources said some of them were old acquaintances of Gupta and were quizzed to get information on her past.
The foreign national was questioned on Thursday after a tip- off. But it is yet to be ascertained whether he had any links with the arrested diplomat.
The police have also questioned 10 people in the Capital who were known to Gupta, including some classmates. Also under the scanner was a doctor of the Sucheta Kriplani Hospital, who was friends with Gupta during their Delhi University days. Gupta was a student of Ramjas College.
She has been in the custody of special cell sleuths and is being questioned at its Rohini Sector 6 office by the Delhi Police, IB and RAW officials. Sources said Gupta was cooperating in the interrogation, but on Thursday gave some contradictory versions.
An officer said Gupta was being provided the food she demanded. Once she asked for a chicken pizza and it was arranged, he said.
—Agencies