A 15-year-old boy was arrested in Pathankot on charges of espionage after it was discovered that he had been in touch with ISI handlers based in Pakistan for nearly a year.
The minor identified as Sanjeev Kumar was apprehended by Punjab police for allegedly sharing information related to national security with Pakistan’s ISI, terror outfits, and Pakistan military officers, officials said on Tuesday.
The incident has raised serious security concerns regarding alleged Pakistan’s ISI recruitment drive now targeting Indian minors.
As per reports, further probe into the case revealed that the minor had been using his mobile phone to share important and sensitive information related to India.
According to officials, the juvenile was tricked by Pakistani handlers on social media. Police said he believed that his father had been murdered, which made him emotionally vulnerable.
As per Times of India, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pathankot Daljinder Singh Dhillon said, “The police have arrested Sanjeev Kumar, aged 15, after receiving information that he had been supplying information related to the security of our nation to the frontal organisations of terror agencies, ISI, and Pakistan military officers.”
He added that the boy was drawn in by Pakistani accounts online. “He fell into the trap of Pakistani agencies through social media, as he was suspicious that his father had been murdered, which affected him mentally. However, the investigation did not reveal any such evidence,” Dhillon said.
Police said that Sanjeev had sent videos of several sensitive locations and had been in contact with gangsters based in Pakistan who run terror modules.
“He had been in contact with Pakistan’s terror organisations for almost a year,” the SSP said.
Police are investigating how much information he shared and who he was in contact with.
“The boy is currently in custody, and further action will be taken based on the investigation,” said the official.
Authorities Suspect Wider Network
The probe into the case revealed that the youngster did not act alone. The authorities suspect a broader network and have been trying to identify several other minors across the state who are allegedly in communications with ISI handlers.
A high alert has been issued to all Punjab police stations. Officers have been directed to intensify surveillance and identify other vulnerable youths who may have been ensnared in these clandestine networks.
Authorities are continuing their probe to determine the true magnitude of the operation and to assess the sensitivity of the data potentially compromised by these contacts.
At a press conference, Pathankot SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon confirmed the apprehension of a 15-year-old boy.
“The investigation has yielded critical insights into their data-sharing methods,” Dhillon stated, adding that inputs point toward a wider involvement of minors across Punjab. He noted that state-wide units have been alerted and ‘action will follow, as per reports.
In light of these developments, police have initiated a comprehensive review of online interactions involving minors in border districts. The exercise aims to identify and close possible security loopholes and disrupt digital channels allegedly exploited by hostile agencies to influence local youth.
As the investigation progresses, officials emphasise that safeguarding state security while ensuring the welfare of children remains their foremost priority.
In another similar incident, a man from Haryana’s Ambala has been arrested for allegedly spying on the Indian Air Force, said an official on Tuesday.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Crime Virendra Kumar said the accused, Sunil alias Sunny, had been a contractor handling repair work at an Air Force station since 2020.
“The police had information that he was providing details about our defence area, specifically the Air Force. His mobile was seized and several suspicious things emerged from it,” Kumar said.
The official added that Sunil had been in contact with a woman who allegedly asked for information, which he passed on.
“According to his device, he used to send information to a neighbouring country, which we can call an enemy country. But this is his version. Investigation is ongoing,” he said.
Sunil is married with two children and is currently on four days of remand. The probe is in its initial stages.
