9 Army personnel arrested for spying in last 3 yrs: A K Antony

NEW DELHI: Nine Army personnel have been arrested for spying against India for inimical intelligence agencies in the last three years, Defence Minister A K Antony informed Lok Sabha today.

"Three cases of alleged spying have been reported during 2012 to 2014. Nine army personnel have been arrested in these cases and appropriate action has been initiated against the accused as per the law and laid down procedure in this regard," Antony said in written reply to a Lok Sabha query.

The Minister said after the arrest of these personnel, cases are at different stages in various civil and military courts.

"Some inimical intelligence agencies have been reported to be allegedly involved in the spying activities. Appropriate measures are concurrently in place to prevent such incidents," Antony said.

Answering another query, the Defence Minister said from 2011, 73 cadets belonging to the Army, Navy and IAF training academies have been invalidated due to injuries.

He clarified that there is no scheme to absorb these officers but an IAF Flight Cadet has been retained in service due to his "exceptional performance in previous stages of training".

To a query on shortages of officers and jawans in the three Services, the Minister said the three forces together are facing shortage of 12,372 officers and 39,839 jawans.

The highest shortfall is in the Army which is short of 9,590 officers and 22,841 jawans.