CHANDIGARH, May 20: Punjab Police have launched a sweeping investigation into the activities and backgrounds of nearly 50 individuals across the state believed to have had connections—direct or indirect—with six people arrested this month on charges of spying for Pakistan.
Senior police officials confirmed that these individuals, though not detained, are under close scrutiny as part of an ongoing counterintelligence operation following the arrests in Pathankot, Malerkotla, Bathinda, and Gurdaspur. “Their contacts with the arrested suspects are being thoroughly verified,” a senior officer said. “Only after complete verification can any of them be cleared.”
The six accused—five men and one woman—are being interrogated for allegedly leaking sensitive military and strategic information to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI. Investigations suggest a coordinated effort involving financial transactions, fake documentation, and possible breaches in military security zones.
Among the most prominent arrests was that of Guzala, apprehended on May 8 by Malerkotla Police. She allegedly acted as an informant for one Danish, a Pakistani official based at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Police said Guzala received money in exchange for passing on military information. Yameen Mohammad, a visa and passport agent, was also arrested for facilitating financial transactions on Danish’s behalf.
According to police, Yameen transferred ₹10,000 to Guzala and Danish sent an additional ₹20,000 directly. Both suspects were remanded in police custody until May 12.
In another case, Neeraj Kumar, a 28-year-old salesman, was arrested in Pathankot on May 12 for allegedly activating SIM cards using forged documents. The matter surfaced after local resident Mohit Kumar discovered an unauthorized SIM card issued in his name had become active in Pakistan before being deactivated. Police said the FIR against Neeraj was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, with investigations suggesting misuse of personal data for cross-border communication.
In Bathinda, authorities booked Rakib, a tailor working near the military cantonment, after military officials reported suspicious behavior. During questioning, Rakib admitted to receiving calls and voice messages from Pakistani numbers earlier this year. He also confessed to possessing military documents left behind by Army personnel, though he claimed he had not interacted with the foreign callers.
Meanwhile, in Gurdaspur, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh were detained for allegedly leaking classified details related to Operation Sindoor—India’s retaliatory military strike against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 27 Indian tourists. Investigators said the accused passed information about troop movements and key strategic locations across Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir to ISI handlers.
As part of the broader investigation, Punjab Police are now mapping the full extent of the network. “So far, most of those questioned claim they were unaware of the espionage links,” a source involved in the probe said. “But their statements are being cross-verified with technical inputs and surveillance data.”
While no charges have been filed yet against the 50 individuals under observation, police say the investigation remains active and evolving.
“This is a sensitive matter involving national security,” said a police official. “We are moving carefully, ensuring every lead is followed and every connection is vetted.”
