Nagpur woman who crossed LoC near Kargil booked for espionage

The Nagpur police stated that Sunita Jamgade, a 43-year-old woman from Nagpur in Maharashtra, has been charged with espionage after allegedly crossing the Line of Control (LoC) earlier this month. Jamgade, who allegedly crossed the border to see a man named Zulfikar, is presently in police detention until June 2 due to court orders.

Police Inspector Satish Aade verified the advancement.

Niketan Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone V, revealed that Jamgade’s decision to cross the heavily militarised border was driven by her desire to meet Zulfikar, a person she had been in touch with on social media. “During the investigation, we found several chats on her phone. While there were conversations with multiple individuals, Zulfikar stood out,” said DCP Kadam.

Initially, Jamgade gave unclear answers, claiming she was exploring business opportunities in the neighbouring country. But eventually, she admitted that her only real intention was to meet Zulfikar, the police said.

Jamgade was reported missing from Hunderman, a secluded village close to the LoC in Kargil, Ladakh. At that moment, she was on a trip with her son, who was 12 years old. Police authorities were unsettled by this information, and when questioned about why she abandoned her child, she explained that she believed she would come back quickly.

In spite of the seriousness of the matter, Kadam emphasized that no definitive proof has been found yet indicating that Jamgade shared any confidential information. “We haven’t discovered evidence that she disclosed classified or sensitive information to anyone,” he remarked.

Officials are currently collaborating with law enforcement in Kargil to assess if Jamgade had any local support while crossing the LoC. Because she was momentarily held by Pakistan’s military, the inquiry will also examine what occurred during her period across the border.

Jamgade returned to Nagpur on May 28 and appeared in front of a special court, which ordered her to be held in police custody until June 2. Authorities indicated that a verdict on extending her detention will occur on Monday. Additionally, according to police sources, there is a chance that Jamgade might be transported to Hunderman in Kargil to retrace the path she followed to cross the Line of Control.