Punjab: 15-year-old boy arrested in Pathankot for spying for Pak's ISI; more minors under scrutiny
PTC News Desk: Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI, is allegedly trying to recruit Indian minors, raising serious security concerns. In one such case, Punjab Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy on spying charges.
The boy was arrested by Pathankot Police after investigators found that he had been in contact with ISI handlers in Pakistan for nearly a year. Police said he shared sensitive information related to India using his mobile phone. The minor, who lives in Samba district of Jammu, was detained after surveillance and technical checks linked his communications to Pakistan-based contacts.
During questioning, police found signs that the boy was not working alone. Officials believe that several other minors from different parts of Punjab may also be in touch with ISI operatives. Because of this, alerts have been sent to police stations across the state to stay alert and identify other children who may have been targeted.
Further investigation is ongoing to find out how widespread the network is and what kind of information may have been shared.
Confirming the case, Pathankot SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon said the 15-year-old was in contact with ISI handlers and that important details about how information was passed on have come to light. He added that police have received inputs suggesting the involvement of other minors, and police units across Punjab have been informed to take action.
Police officials said the case has led to a broader review of online activities involving minors, especially in border areas. The main aim, they said, is to stop sensitive information from being leaked and to protect children from being exploited by hostile agencies operating online.
- With inputs from agencies
