According to Punjab Police, the two accused are daily-wage workers with a background of substance abuse.
Two Arrested in Amritsar for Spying for ISI; Sensitive Military Data Leaked to Pakistan
In a significant counter-espionage operation, Punjab Police on Saturday arrested two individuals in Amritsar for allegedly passing sensitive information about Indian military installations to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The arrests follow heightened Indo-Pak tensions in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, that left 26 dead.
The accused, identified as Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih, were reportedly in contact with ISI handlers through Harpreet Singh alias Pittu alias Happy, an inmate lodged in Amritsar Central Jail. Police said the duo was leaking classified details about the Army cantonment and Air Force base in Amritsar.
Both men are daily-wage labourers with a known history of substance abuse, but no previous criminal records, according to initial investigations. A mobile phone recovered from them allegedly contains photographs of troop movements and strategic military facilities.
Investigators believe the suspects had already shared GPS coordinates and other crucial data with Pakistani handlers. Police also plan to bring Harpreet Singh on a production warrant to uncover deeper ISI links.
Confirming the arrests, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said a case under the Official Secrets Act has been registered and a detailed investigation is underway.
Amritsar Rural SSP Maninder Singh stated that actionable intelligence led to the arrests. “They were passing on critical information about defence locations. Harpreet, who is already in jail for a narcotics case, facilitated their contact with ISI,” he said.
The FIR includes charges under the Official Secrets Act and the Information Technology Act. Preliminary findings indicate the accused were paid Rs 5,000 for minor intel and Rs 10,000 for highly sensitive information like troop movements.
“They were earlier involved in smuggling heroin consignments across the border. Now, they were leaking military data to aid enemy designs. Arms and RDX have also been recovered in connection with the case,” said the SSP.
Taking to X, DGP Yadav posted: “Further critical revelations are expected as the probe deepens. Punjab Police stands in complete solidarity with the Indian Army and remains committed to safeguarding national interests. Any threat to our armed forces will be dealt with swiftly and decisively.”
