Two individuals apprehended in Punjab for alleged espionage activities, accused of passing sensitive military information to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
In a dramatic turn of events, the Punjab Police have nabbed three individuals accused of leaking sensitive military information to Pakistani spies, marking a significant blow in the battle against cross-border espionage. The culprits, identified as Palak Sher Masih, Suraj Masih, and Harpreet Singh, have been charged under the Official Secrets Act and the Information Technology Act.
The amateur spies, Palak and Suraj, both daily wage laborers with a history of substance abuse and no prior criminal record, were allegedly supplying the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) of Pakistan with classified information about Indian Army and Air Force installations in Amritsar, including the cantonment and the Air Force base.
Harpreet Singh, an inmate at Amritsar Central Jail, acted as the handler and channel between the two accused and the Pakistani intelligence operatives. He is believed to have been facilitating the transfer of sensitive information from Palak and Suraj to Pakistan.
The police recovered mobile phones from the accused containing images and information about Indian military movements and installations. This operation is considered a significant step by Punjab Police in dismantling cross-border espionage networks and reinforcing national security.
Investigations revealed that Palak and Suraj were in frequent contact with Pakistani handlers and were receiving payments through online transactions in exchange for the classified information. The police are now working diligently to trace the financial trails and identify additional operatives linked to this espionage network.
The arrests took place at a time when India and Pakistan are locked in an aggressive standoff following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. The Punjab Police have intensified their counter-espionage efforts, including canceling leaves of officers and undertaking administrative changes to strengthen security vigilance.
This spy scandal unfolds amid escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced security measures and vigilance to protect the country's military installations and safeguard national security.
- The escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, following recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, have put a spotlight on the need for economic growth and effective political strategies to support general news, crime-and-justice, and war-and-conflicts sectors in the face of heightened security threats.
- The arrest of the Amritsar spy network, involved in leaking sensitive military information to Pakistan, not only reinforces the importance of strengthening national security but also questions the prioritization of different areas of public interest such as economic growth, politics, general news, and crime-and-justice in the current geopolitical context.
