Is a 15-year-old Boy Spying for Pakistan in Punjab?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chandigarh, Jan 6 (NationPress) A 15-year-old boy was apprehended in Pathankot, Punjab, by law enforcement for allegedly engaging in espionage and disseminating sensitive information via social media. This incident has triggered a state-wide alert regarding potential espionage activities involving minors.
Authorities reported on Tuesday that the boy, who hails from the Samba district in Jammu, was purportedly transmitting vital and sensitive data concerning India to ISI operatives located in Pakistan over the past year.
He stands accused of sharing images and details regarding critical military locations. The police have retrieved chat logs and call history from his mobile device.
According to police statements, the boy harbored suspicions that his father had been murdered, leading to emotional vulnerability.
Senior Superintendent of Police Daljinder Singh Dhillon, stationed in Pathankot, informed the press that the juvenile was taken into custody following intelligence that suggested he had been funneling information pertinent to national security to terror organizations, including ISI and Pakistani military officials.
The police emphasized that the boy was lured by Pakistani agencies through social media platforms, spurred by his belief that his father was murdered, which adversely affected his mental state.
After conducting surveillance and a technical analysis that linked his communications to handlers in Pakistan, the minor was apprehended, according to media reports.
During the interrogation, police discovered that the boy was not acting alone. Officials suspect that multiple other minors might be communicating with ISI agents.
Consequently, alerts have been dispatched to police stations across the state to remain vigilant and identify other children who may have fallen victim. His arrest has raised alarms among Indian security agencies, as investigations suggest that ISI is attempting to recruit young individuals for espionage, which poses a significant security threat, acknowledged a senior officer from Punjab Police.