A 15-year-old boy was detained in Pathankot for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s ISI via social media. Police warn of a wider espionage network involving minors, triggering a statewide security alert in Punjab and Jammu.
Indian security agencies have raised serious concerns after a 15-year-old boy was detained from Pathankot in Punjab for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and sharing sensitive information through social media platforms. The incident has prompted a statewide alert amid fears that more minors may be targeted and exploited by foreign intelligence networks.
According to senior police officials, the boy is a resident of Samba district in Jammu and was allegedly in contact with ISI handlers and Pakistan military-linked operatives for nearly a year. Investigators claim he shared confidential information related to India’s national security, including photographs and details of sensitive military installations located in border areas.
The detention was confirmed on Tuesday by Senior Superintendent of Police Daljinder Singh Dhillon, who stated that law enforcement agencies acted on specific intelligence inputs indicating that the minor was supplying critical security-related data to enemy-linked operatives. Based on preliminary findings, police recovered chat histories, call records, and digital evidence from the boy’s mobile phone, suggesting sustained communication with foreign handlers.
Officials revealed that the boy’s emotional vulnerability played a crucial role in his alleged recruitment. During questioning, the minor reportedly believed that his father had been murdered under suspicious circumstances. This emotional trauma is suspected to have been exploited by ISI-linked operatives, who gradually built trust through social media interactions before allegedly drawing him into espionage activities.
Police sources emphasized that Pakistani intelligence agencies are increasingly using online platforms to target emotionally vulnerable individuals, including minors, for intelligence gathering. The case highlights a growing trend of cyber-based espionage where children are manipulated through false narratives, sympathy-building tactics, and promises of support or protection.
More alarmingly, investigators have found indications that the boy was not acting alone. Security agencies now suspect that multiple children across border districts may be in contact with ISI operatives. This revelation has triggered heightened surveillance and intelligence coordination across Punjab and Jammu regions to identify similar threats.
Senior officials have urged parents and guardians to closely monitor their children’s online activities and report any suspicious communication. Law enforcement agencies are also working with cybercrime units to trace digital footprints and dismantle networks attempting to recruit minors for hostile activities.
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Security experts warn that the involvement of children in espionage represents a dangerous evolution in cross-border intelligence warfare. Authorities are now reassessing counterintelligence strategies, particularly in border districts, to prevent further exploitation of minors and safeguard national security.
The detained minor remains in police custody as investigations continue. Officials stressed that the focus remains on identifying handlers and preventing further recruitment, rather than punitive action against vulnerable individuals.
