India-Pakistan tension: 11 held in major espionage crackdown across Haryana, Punjab and UP after Pahalgam terror attack
PTC Web Desk: In a sweeping nationwide crackdown on espionage, Indian security agencies have arrested 11 persons over three days from Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh for allegedly spying for Pakistan. The arrests follow intensified surveillance and intelligence operations launched after the April 22 Pahalgam Terror Attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
The suspects come from diverse backgrounds—including students, a travel vlogger, a security guard, and app developers—and were reportedly lured into Pakistan’s spy network through monetary incentives, social media manipulation, and direct contact with Pakistani handlers, including officials from the Pakistani High Commission.
Who are the accused? Full list and charges
1. Jyoti Malhotra (Haryana)
A prominent travel YouTuber from Hisar with 3.85 lakh subscribers on her channel ‘Travel with JO’, Jyoti Malhotra has been arrested for allegedly leaking sensitive information. According to the police, she was “being developed as an asset” by Pakistani agents and had travelled to Pakistan in 2023, 2024, and most recently in March 2025—just before the Pahalgam attack.
Malhotra was in direct contact with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a suspended Pakistani High Commission official. Her travel videos and visits to Kashmir and Pakistan are under close investigation to assess whether they were part of a broader intelligence-gathering operation.
2. Gazala and Yameen Mohammad (Punjab)
Gazala, a 32-year-old widow, and Yameen Mohammad from Malerkotla, Punjab, were arrested alongside Jyoti Malhotra. They allegedly funneled funds and sensitive information to Pakistani handlers. The police say the duo had repeated dealings with Danish and received money transfers on their cellphones. Their role involved both financial transfers and visa-related espionage logistics.
3. Devender Singh (Punjab)
A 25-year-old political science student from Khalsa College, Patiala, Devender Singh was arrested in Kaithal, Haryana. He allegedly shared images of the Patiala military cantonment with ISI agents and had also visited Pakistan in November 2024. At the time of his arrest, he had shared pictures of pistols and arms on Facebook, the police said.
4. Arman (Haryana)
Arman, a 26-year-old resident of Nuh, was arrested for allegedly leaking military information via WhatsApp to Pakistani numbers. Recovered data from his phone revealed sensitive conversations, images, and videos linked to Indian military activities.
5. Tarif (Haryana)
Also from Nuh, Tarif was allegedly in touch with Pakistani Embassy officials who gave him SIM cards for espionage purposes. He was tasked with clicking images of strategic locations, including an airport in Sirsa. He frequently travelled to Pakistan, according to his testimony.
6. Nauman Ilahi (Uttar Pradesh)
A 24-year-old factory security guard from Kairana, UP, Nauman Ilahi was picked up in Panipat for maintaining contact with ISI operatives. He had travelled to Pakistan several times and reportedly supplied classified information. Electronic devices seized from him are being forensically examined.
7. Mohammad Murtaza Ali (Punjab)
Arrested in Jalandhar, Punjab, Murtaza Ali is accused of conducting espionage activities through a mobile application he developed. Four phones and three SIM cards were seized. The police say he was operating as a tech-based intelligence conduit for ISI.
8. Shehzad (Uttar Pradesh)
Uttar Pradesh ATS apprehended Shehzad from Moradabad. A Rampur native, Shehzad was allegedly involved in cross-border smuggling of cosmetics, spices, and clothing—used as a cover for his intelligence work. Investigators revealed that he was in direct contact with several ISI operatives and actively facilitated their operations in India. He has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
9. Sukhpreet Singh (Punjab)
Sukhpreet Singh, arrested from Gurdaspur, Punjab, was reportedly leaking classified information on Indian troop movements and operations under Operation Sindoor. Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav stated that Sukhpreet received Rs 1 lakh from ISI post the Pahalgam terror attack. The authorities estimate his age to be around 19-20 years.
10. Karanbir Singh (Punjab)
Also arrested during Operation Sindoor, Karanbir Singh was found in direct contact with ISI handlers. He is accused of sharing Indian Army-related intelligence over the past 15-20 days and being involved in drug smuggling operations. FIRs have been filed against both Karanbir and Sukhpreet under the Official Secrets Act.
- With inputs from agencies
