50 Under Scanner In Punjab For Alleged Links To Arrested 'Spies' (image-X/PunjabPoliceInd)
Punjab: In a sweeping crackdown on espionage activities following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the Punjab Police are investigating around 50 individuals suspected of being linked to six alleged Pakistani spies recently arrested across the state.
The six suspects, arrested from Pathankot, Malerkotla, Bathinda, and Gurdaspur, are accused of sharing sensitive military information with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Police sources confirmed that the 50 individuals under scrutiny are believed to be direct or indirect contacts of those arrested. While none of them have been detained yet, each is being closely monitored and questioned.
Also Read | SC Orders SIT Probe Against BJP Minister Shah Over Remarks Against Col. Sofiya Qureshi
Officials say these individuals will only be cleared after thorough technical and human intelligence-based verification. “Most of those questioned claim they were unaware of the espionage activities, but we are leaving no stone unturned,” a senior police official said.
On May 8, Malerkotla Police arrested Guzala and Yameen Mohammad for allegedly passing military information to a Pakistani officer named Danish, based at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. According to investigators, Guzala met Danish in Delhi and later began sharing sensitive details in exchange for money. Yameen, a visa agent, allegedly helped funnel funds to her on Danish’s instructions.
Guzala allegedly received Rs 30,000 in total — Rs 10,000 from Yameen and Rs 20,000 directly from Danish — and further transferred amounts to additional contacts. Both suspects were remanded to police custody for further interrogation.
On May 12, Pathankot Police arrested Neeraj Kumar, a salesman, for allegedly issuing SIM cards using forged documents. A complaint revealed that a SIM card issued in a resident’s name had been used in Pakistan. Investigations linked the fraudulently obtained number to potential espionage activity.
Meanwhile in Bathinda, Rakib, a tailor working near the Bathinda Cantonment, was arrested for possessing military documents and being in touch with Pakistani intelligence operatives. Rakib claimed he received unsolicited calls and voice messages from Pakistan in January 2025 and admitted to holding sensitive military papers left behind by army personnel.
Also Read | Did Pakistan Fire Nuclear-Capable Shaheen Ballistic Missile On India?
In Gurdaspur, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh were detained for allegedly sharing classified information regarding Operation Sindoor — India’s retaliatory military operation against Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 tourists. Authorities alleged they passed details on troop movement and strategic sites in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir to ISI handlers.
Punjab Police have not ruled out the possibility of a wider network and are pursuing all leads with the help of central intelligence agencies. A senior official indicated the ongoing investigation aims to dismantle any sleeper cells operating in the region.
