Punjab teen detained as spying allegations spark shock, concern
His arrest has alarmed security agencies, fearing ISI efforts to manipulate and recruit vulnerable children into dangerous espionage networks.
In a deeply alarming development, a 15-year-old boy was detained by police in Pathankot, Punjab, for allegedly engaging in espionage and sharing sensitive information with handlers based in Pakistan. The arrest has sent shockwaves across security agencies and prompted a state-wide alert, as authorities grapple with the possibility that children are being targeted by foreign intelligence operatives.
Officials revealed on Tuesday that the minor, a resident of Samba district in Jammu, had allegedly been providing critical and sensitive information related to India to alleged ISI handlers in Pakistan for over a year. The information reportedly included photographs and details about sensitive military locations, raising serious concerns about national security. Authorities recovered chats and call records from the boy’s mobile device, which appear to confirm his contact with foreign operatives.
Police have highlighted the vulnerability of the boy, noting that he believed his father had been murdered, leaving him emotionally distressed and impressionable. “His emotional state made him particularly susceptible to manipulation.”
According to Dhillon, the minor was allegedly providing information to frontal organisations linked to terror agencies, the ISI, and officers of the Pakistan military. Surveillance and technical analysis reportedly confirmed the boy’s communications with Pakistan-based handlers, leading authorities to take swift action and place him in custody.
During questioning, police discovered that the boy was not acting alone. Officials suspect that other children may also have been contacted or influenced by ISI operatives. In response, alerts have been sent to police stations across Punjab, urging officers to remain vigilant and identify any additional minors who may have been targeted for espionage activities.
The incident has raised significant alarm among Indian security agencies, as it highlights a disturbing trend of foreign intelligence attempting to recruit vulnerable young people for spying.
Experts on national security have pointed out that social media and online platforms have increasingly become tools for foreign agencies to identify and manipulate vulnerable individuals. In this case, the boy’s personal trauma and grief appear to have made him particularly susceptible to online recruitment tactics. Authorities are warning parents, schools, and local communities to be vigilant about the influence of strangers online and the dangers of sharing personal information, particularly related to sensitive national matters.
The Pathankot arrest underscores the need for heightened awareness and preventive measures to protect children from exploitation by hostile agencies. Security officials have emphasised the importance of timely reporting, community vigilance, and the use of counselling services for children who may be emotionally vulnerable.
For the boy, the incident represents a tragic convergence of personal loss and manipulation by external forces, which has put him and the nation at risk. While law enforcement works to understand the full scope of the network, the case serves as a stark reminder of the evolving challenges faced by national security agencies in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.
Authorities have vowed to continue investigations to identify all parties involved and prevent further exploitation of minors. Meanwhile, parents and community leaders have been urged to educate children about the dangers of online interactions with unknown individuals, particularly those promising attention or guidance during times of emotional distress.
As Punjab grapples with the implications of the case, security agencies hope the arrest will prevent further recruitment of children and send a clear message to hostile forces: targeting minors for espionage will be met with swift and uncompromising action. The boy’s detention has sparked urgent discussions on balancing child protection, rehabilitation, and national security, highlighting the human and societal dimensions of this troubling development.