India Cracks Down on Pakistan-Linked Spy Ring, YouTuber Among Arrests
Major Spy Ring Bust in India
Indian authorities have made a significant move against suspected Pakistani espionage, arresting at least 12 individuals, including a popular YouTuber, across northern states.
A Web of Suspected Espionage
The arrests follow heightened security concerns after the Pahalgam terror attack, which India blames on Islamabad-backed militants. The crackdown also comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory airstrikes targeting terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
According to a report by the Times of India, two women, Haryana-based influencer Jyoti Malhotra and 31-year-old Guzala from Punjab, were allegedly in contact with a Pakistani intelligence officer named Ehsan-ur-Rahim, also known as Danish, who was stationed at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Danish was expelled by India on May 13th on suspicion of spying.
Suspects Accused of Sharing Sensitive Information
Among the first to be arrested were Falaksher Masih and Suraj Masih from Amritsar. Taken into custody on May 4th, they are accused of sending photographs and information about army cantonments and airbases near the Pakistan border to ISI agents.
More arrests followed on May 11th, including Yameen Mohammad from Malerkotla, who was reportedly paid through UPI transfers for sharing sensitive military information.
On May 13th, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh from Gurdaspur were detained. They were accused of leaking details about troop movements during Operation Sindoor and sharing information on strategic locations in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. Weapons and electronic devices were seized during these arrests.
In Haryana, Nauman Ilahi, a 24-year-old from Uttar Pradesh, was arrested in Panipat on May 15th for allegedly passing information to Pakistan. Devender Singh, a postgraduate student from Kaithal, was arrested the following day. Singh had travelled to Pakistan in November 2023 and was allegedly in contact with four Pakistani operatives.
YouTuber Among the Arrested
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Shahzad from Rampur for spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Shahzad, who frequently travelled to Pakistan, was allegedly involved in cross-border smuggling and anti-national activities. He was apprehended in Moradabad following an investigation into his activities.
In a surprising turn of events, a popular YouTuber, known for her travel vlogs, was arrested on May 16th in Hisar. Her channel, ‘Travel with JO,’ boasts over 3.7 lakh subscribers. Police allege she met Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in 2023 while applying for a visa and was being “developed as an asset” by Pakistani intelligence officers.
A Growing Threat?
These arrests highlight the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan, and the potential for espionage to escalate the conflict. The involvement of a popular YouTuber raises concerns about the methods Pakistan may be using to recruit informants.
