Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Jan 6: Punjab Police have taken a 15-year-old boy into custody in Pathankot on allegations of espionage after discovering that he was allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistan-based handlers through social media. The case has prompted heightened vigilance across the state amid concerns that minors are being targeted for intelligence-gathering activities.

According to officials, the teenager is a resident of Samba district in Jammu and is suspected of having shared confidential and security-related information with operatives linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) over the past year. Investigators allege that the boy transmitted photographs and details of sensitive military installations using online platforms.

Police sources confirmed that chat histories and call records recovered from the boy’s mobile phone indicate sustained contact with handlers across the border. During preliminary questioning, it also emerged that the teenager believed his father had been murdered, a factor that officials say made him emotionally vulnerable and easier to manipulate.

Senior Superintendent of Police Daljinder Singh Dhillon of Pathankot stated that the minor was taken into custody after credible intelligence suggested he was supplying information affecting national security to front organisations linked to the ISI and Pakistani military officials. He added that the boy was allegedly drawn into the network through social media interactions, which gradually escalated into the sharing of sensitive material.

Security agencies reportedly conducted surveillance and technical analysis that traced the communications back to Pakistan-based operatives, leading to the boy’s detention. During the investigation, police also found indications that the minor may not have been acting alone.

Authorities now suspect that other children could be in contact with similar handlers. In response, alerts have been issued to police units across Punjab, urging them to remain vigilant and identify any additional minors who may have been approached or compromised.

The case has raised serious concerns within Indian security circles. Senior police officials have warned that attempts to recruit minors for espionage represent a worrying trend and could pose a long-term threat to national security if not addressed promptly.