In a significant blow to cross-border espionage, Indian intelligence and law enforcement agencies have dismantled yet another Pakistani spy network operating within Punjab. Two individuals have been apprehended for allegedly leaking classified information related to “Operation Sindoor,” a covert counter-terror initiative spearheaded by Indian defense forces.
According to officials from the Punjab Police and Military Intelligence (MI), the arrests were made following weeks of surveillance, culminating in a joint operation late last week in the border districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. The suspects, both Indian nationals, are accused of maintaining direct contact with Pakistani intelligence handlers through social media platforms and encrypted messaging applications.
Operation Sindoor, believed to be a strategic counter-infiltration initiative aimed at neutralizing threats along the western border, is considered highly sensitive. Leaks concerning troop movement, deployment zones, and logistics could severely compromise national security.
Authorities have revealed that the arrested individuals had been systematically transmitting critical information over several months. Preliminary interrogation has confirmed that monetary incentives and ideological indoctrination played a key role in their recruitment.
“These individuals were part of a wider espionage module activated by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to gather real-time intelligence on Indian military activities. Their arrest is a major step forward in dismantling this hostile network,” said a senior official from the Punjab Police’s Counter-Intelligence Wing.
Key evidence recovered from the accused includes multiple mobile devices, SIM cards registered under fake identities, and documents containing coded references to military operations. Forensic analysis is underway to determine the full extent of the data breach.
Cybercrime units and intelligence agencies are now tracing the digital footprint left by the suspects to identify possible accomplices across other states. Sources indicate that this operation may have links to previous cases in Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir, where similar espionage activities have been uncovered in recent years.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has directed central agencies such as the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to intensify their counter-intelligence operations in light of this breach. “There is a renewed urgency to secure operational secrecy and tighten vetting protocols, especially for personnel posted near sensitive installations,” an MHA spokesperson stated.
This incident comes amid heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), with increased infiltration attempts and drone sightings reported since early April. Security experts suggest that Pakistan may be escalating intelligence-gathering efforts ahead of the monsoon season, when terrain-based vulnerabilities can be exploited.
Political leaders have commended the swift action taken by intelligence agencies. Punjab Chief Minister emphasized the need for collective vigilance: “This case serves as a stark reminder of the threats we face from across the border. I urge all citizens to remain alert and report suspicious activities promptly.”
As investigations continue, the arrests mark a critical checkpoint in India’s broader national security strategy to counter external threats and foreign espionage.
