Punjab Police have apprehended two individuals from Gurdaspur for allegedly transmitting sensitive military information to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence . The arrests, part of a broader counter-espionage operation, come in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives.
The suspects, identified as Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh, both in their early twenties, were reportedly activated by ISI handlers shortly after the Pahalgam incident. Authorities allege that the duo shared classified details concerning troop movements and strategic locations in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Investigations revealed that they received monetary compensation, with ₹1 lakh transferred to their accounts, and were also involved in drug-related activities.
The arrests were facilitated by credible intelligence inputs received on May 15. Subsequent forensic examinations of their mobile devices confirmed the transmission of sensitive information. Law enforcement officials recovered three mobile phones and eight live cartridges from the suspects. An FIR has been registered under the Official Secrets Act at the Dorangala police station, and further investigations are underway.
These developments are part of a nationwide crackdown on espionage activities linked to Pakistan. Over the past week, authorities have arrested at least 11 individuals across Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh for allegedly spying for Pakistan. The suspects include a travel vlogger, students, a security guard, and an app developer, highlighting the diverse profiles of those targeted by ISI operatives.
One notable arrest is that of Jyoti Malhotra, a travel vlogger from Hisar, Haryana, who operates the YouTube channel ‘Travel with Jo’. Malhotra, who has over 385,000 subscribers, was allegedly in contact with Pakistani agents and had traveled to Pakistan thrice between 2023 and March 2025. Authorities claim she was being cultivated as an asset, although she reportedly had no direct access to defense-related information.
The broader investigation has uncovered that many of the accused were lured into espionage through social media platforms, monetary incentives, and false promises. The use of encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat facilitated communication between the suspects and their handlers. Some individuals were even enticed through personal visits to Pakistan.
The Pahalgam terror attack, which served as a catalyst for these espionage activities, involved militants linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, with at least two foreign nationals among the attackers. Investigations have traced digital footprints leading to safe houses in Muzaffarabad and Karachi, suggesting potential support from operatives based in Pakistan. In response, Indian forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
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