The Punjab Police have arrested a 15-year-old boy in Pathankot for allegedly sharing sensitive national security information with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
The minor, a resident of Samba district in Jammu, was reportedly in contact with Pakistan-based handlers for nearly a year through social media platforms. Investigations revealed that the boy had been transmitting crucial data and sensitive imagery using his mobile phone.
This arrest has triggered a statewide alert across Punjab, as authorities have uncovered evidence suggesting that a wider network of minors is being targeted and recruited for espionage activities.
Infiltration Through Digital Platforms
The arrest follows months of technical surveillance by intelligence agencies monitoring suspicious communication channels originating from Pakistan. The minor was taken into custody after a thorough technical analysis linked his mobile activities directly to ISI operatives.
Investigators found that the boy had been groomed over a twelve-month period, during which he was encouraged to document and share information regarding strategic Indian installations.
This case highlights a dangerous new trend in cross-border espionage where hostile agencies exploit the digital footprint of young, impressionable individuals to bypass traditional security detection methods.
Probing Recruitment Network
During interrogation, the minor provided vital leads indicating that he was not an isolated case. Police sources suggest that several other children across various districts of Punjab may have fallen under the influence of similar ISI modules.
Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Daljinder Singh Dhillon confirmed the gravity of the situation during a press briefing.
“The child apprehended is 15 years old and was in constant contact with handlers in Pakistan. We have found crucial inputs suggesting other minors in Punjab are involved. Alert notices have been sent to all state units to identify and protect vulnerable children,” Dhillon stated.
Cyber Vigilance
The Punjab Police have now launched a comprehensive review of online activities involving minors, particularly in sensitive border regions.
Forensic teams are currently examining the arrested boy’s smartphone to determine the exact nature of the classified data leaked and to trace the digital identities of his handlers. Officials have emphasised that this is a matter of grave national concern, as the involvement of children complicates legal and rehabilitative processes.
The focus of the ongoing probe is to dismantle the virtual recruitment hubs and ensure that no further sensitive information is compromised through the exploitation of minors.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we are deeply concerned by reports of children being weaponised as pawns in the dangerous game of international espionage. While national security must be guarded with the utmost rigour, we must also address the digital vulnerability of our youth who are being manipulated by hostile elements.
We believe in a world where childhood is defined by education and play, not by the shadows of cross-border conflict. It is essential for parents, educators, and the government to work in harmony to foster digital literacy and emotional resilience, ensuring that no child is led astray by malicious online actors.
