The Uttar Pradesh anti-terrorist squad has arrested a suspected ISI agent, who worked at the home of an Indian diplomat in Pakistan, from Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, officials said today.


Ramesh Singh Kanyal, who was arrested from his home in Didihat area in Pithoragarh yesterday, worked as a cook at the diplomat's residence in Islamabad from 2015-2017, officials in Lucknow and Pithoragarh said.


Kanyal has confessed to his role in anti-national activities, an official of the UP ATS said. He has been taken to Lucknow for interrogation, Pithoragarh SP Ramchandra Rajguru said.


Kanyal is accused of passing on confidential information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence for money while he was in Islamabad, the SP said.


A Pakistani 'Q-mobile' phone was recovered during the search carried out at his home yesterday, an ATS official disclosed. The phone was given to him by the ISI for contacting them, the ATS official said, adding that data extraction of the instrument could provide vital clues. It is suspected that the phone, which is being sent for forensic examination, could have a spyware, he said.


Kanyal had come into contact with the ISI in Islamabad and was recruited as an agent of Pakistan's intelligence agency. Kanyal, the official said, would leak secret information for which he was paid in dollars. -- PTI