India’s Spy Hunt: 12 Arrested in Punjab, Haryana, UP in Major Intelligence OperationIndia’s security agencies have intercepted a significant espionage ring with the arrest of 12 people from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The widespread detentions in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor have revealed how deeply Pakistani intelligence is funneling sensitive military details from Northern India into Pakistan. Let us describe step by step how the probe is developing, who the prime suspects are, and how serious these developments are for national security.
The Arrests: A Multi-State Operation
In the last two weeks, the Punjab and Haryana Police reported the arrest of six suspects from Punjab, five from Haryana, and one from Uttar Pradesh. These two regions were the last to surrender to the IS-Spy networks’ kununtu, which is run in Pakistan by the ISI, which exposed this network after giving credible empathic intelligence identifying a number of informers. Stripping and higher echelons out of field areas closures relieves movement around tropical trees, cyber fronts, playgrounds, bases, shells, docks, and memorial places where grounded flying machines rest.
Profiles of the Accused: From Influencers to Security Guards
Among those arrested are Jyoti Malhotra, a prominent YouTuber from Haryana with 370,000 subscribers, and Guzala, 31, hailing from Punjab. Other profiles include students, security guards, and factory workers, demonstrating how ISI operatives resourced social media, financial incentives, and interpersonal networks to target people from diverse social strata.
Modus Operandi: Digital Espionage and Financial Trails
Pakistan-based ISI operatives communicated through social media and UPI transfers, paying the accused for their active participation using encrypted messaging applications. Some suspects admitted to sending photographs of army cantonments and troop movements during Operation Sindoor as well as details pertaining to various BSF camps and airports. Advanced financial forensics revealed several payments made through accounts at different banks, some of which were allegedly paid over ₹1 lakh for their efforts.
ISI’s Recruitment Tactics: Money, Manipulation, and the Illicit Drug Trade
A number of suspects captured in Punjab had a previous history in the drug trade, which the ISI has turned into an asset. Money, easily obtainable online friendships, and the promise of quick, effortless gains played an important role in the expansion of the espionage network. The youngest captured were mere teenagers, aged 18 and 19, which shows the extent to which the network penetrated the youth demographic.
Official Response: Increased Surveillance and Expulsion of Government Officials
In a rare diplomatic act, India expelled a Pakistani High Commission official, Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, for purportedly masterminding the spy ring. Police have filed filings under the Official Secrets Act and are doing a forensic examination of all the confiscated electronic devices. It is likely that there will be additional arrests as the inquiry advances.
National Security and Public Engagement as an Indirect Consequence
More protocols regarding military and border areas have been implemented since the recent arrests. Citizens are encouraged to stay alert to any suspicious online social interactions and are mandated to report any unusual occurrence. This serves as a harsh reminder of the omnipresent danger that comes with cross-border spying and the aggressive counterintelligence strategies that must be employed.
