NEW DELHI: Shaken by the Corporate Espionage Scandal, the Defence Ministry recently issued a series of security alerts and directives to all defence ministry officials. The security personnel at the Ministry have now been asked to check identity cards of officers irrespective of their rank.
“Respect All, Suspect All” declares a huge sign at the entrance of the South Block. This strongly worded message is the fallout of the recent arrest of a defence ministry staffer in connection with leakage of sensitive and classified documents.
The Chief Security Officer of the South Block has been asked to “ban” officials from carrying mobile phones to meetings and discussions.
“Cell phone can be used as an effective, unobtrusive, listening device for eavesdropping even when switched off. Cell phones are not allowed at the venue of important meetings and discussions, even in switched-off mode,” Colonel Tejvir Singh, CSO, South Block said. The security office has made it clear that this instruction is for everyone, regardless of his or her designation.
The note issued by the CSO asks officials to follow rules to safeguard the country’s secrets. It also provides instructions to keep a close watch on employees.
“Suspecting conduct like staying in office at odd hours, inquisitiveness about matters with which the official is not directly concerned and making extra copies of documents, etc., should be viewed cautiously,” the note said.
It even advises officials against blindly trusting staff. “Entrusting office staff with keys of lockers/ almirahas containing classified documents beyond office hours without supervision should be avoided,” the missive stated.
The defence ministry has been on red alert following Intelligence inputs regarding efforts by foreign agents to prise secret information from defence personnel. The letter mentions that the Ministry of Home Affairs received inputs that defence personnel, privy to sensitive information relating to the Armed Forces continue to be targets of foreign espionage.
For instance, an official from a foreign embassy, posing as a joint secretary of the MoD, sought sensitive information on telephone from a senior officer of a service headquarters. The officer, who failed to verify the identity of the caller, revealed sensitive information under the impression that it was actually a call from the concerned joint secretary. Sources say such callers could be officials from neighbouring countries.
In this regard, it was also directed that confidential work is not to be done on computers connected to the Internet. The Security Office of the Defence Ministry has also instructed that Internet connection should be provided only on a stand-alone personal computer and that should be isolated from all other systems.
Officers using Internet have been asked to submit monthly reports to authenticate that no classified information was sent from his or her computer.
The ministry alerted officials that “no form of telephonic conversation, including intercom and hotline is secure”.
Fresh List of Don’ts
■ Ban on carrying cell phones to officials meetings
■ Contractual employees are prohibited from carrying official files and letters
■ Official computers are not to be connected to the Internet
■ Officers with Internet connection must submit monthly reports to authenticate that no classified information was sent from the computer
