Govt detects foreign intel operatives accessing sensitive info

NEW DELHI: Some incidents of foreign intelligence operatives accessing sensitive information by 'illegally' operating Voice Over Internet Protocol ( VOIP) exchanges have come to the fore, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

"There have been some instances of VOIP exchanges being operated illegally in various parts of the country. However, it has come to the notice that foreign intelligence operatives use spoofed/ manipulated calling line identity (CLI) to access sensitive information," Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir, said in a written reply to a question.

He said the modus operandi involves the use of software from foreign countries to ensure that mobile phone of a target displays incoming call originating from "spoofed" Indian number.

The minister was replying to a question on whether the government had taken note of illegal telephone exchanges routing calls via computer networks, allegedly used by Pakistani intelligence agencies, to access sensitive military information in some parts of the country.

Ahir said some arrests had been made by state police and hence, the details were not maintained at the central level.