Punjab faces rising espionage, drone threats, and terror plots amid escalating ISI-backed infiltration attempts.
CHANDIGARH: A series of high-profile spy arrests, drone incursions, and terror-linked recoveries have plunged Punjab into a security overhaul, transforming the border state into a fortified frontier amid rising tensions with Pakistan.
In just two weeks, authorities have uncovered a sprawling espionage network, intercepted armed drones, and unearthed terror caches — all pointing to a coordinated effort allegedly backed by Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, to destabilise the region.
The intelligence breach began with the arrest of two Amritsar residents on May 3. Punjab Police apprehended Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih in Amritsar for allegedly sharing strategic information about Army cantonments and air bases with Pakistan-based handlers. In a startling revelation, on May 11, a deeper network with alleged links to an official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi was busted.
Two suspects, Guzala and Yameen Mohamad from Sangrur’s Malerkotla, were arrested for allegedly passing on classified Army movement data, with authorities recovering mobile phones and digital payment trails leading back to Pakistan.
Recently, during a joint operation, Punjab and Gujarat police arrested a suspected spy allegedly working for ISI from Jalandhar. The accused, Mohammad Murtaza Ali, was apprehended during a raid in Jalandhar’s Bhargav Camp area.
These arrests were not isolated. On May 6, the State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), along with a central agency, uncovered a cache of terrorist hardware — including RDX and firearms — in the forested belt near Tibba Nangal-Kular Road in SBS Nagar, hinting at a larger ISI-backed terror plot.
Moreover, a 24-year-old man was arrested in neighbouring Haryana’s Panipat district for allegedly sharing sensitive information with people in Pakistan, police sources said on Thursday. The suspect, Nauman Ilahi from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, worked as a security guard at a factory. Police say he was also in contact with a handler from ISI.
The repeated incidents of intelligence breaches in Punjab, which shares a 550 km border with Pakistan, forced authorities in India to send back a Pakistani High Commission official after finding a suspected spy network linked to Pakistan’s ISI. The authorities claimed that this network was involved in leaking sensitive military information from Punjab. Two Indian men have already been arrested in this case.
The security situation rapidly deteriorated after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The drone threats have become increasingly frequent. On May 11, a joint BSF-Amritsar Police operation intercepted a drone attempting to drop pistols, grenades, and RDX. The following day, a surveillance drone was shot down in Jalandhar, triggering precautionary blackouts across Amritsar and Hoshiarpur. On May 15, a DJI Mavic 3 Classic drone crashed near Khemkaran in Tarn Taran, likely brought down by electronic countermeasures. In the largest drug seizure of the year so far, Tarn Taran Police busted a major cross-border narco-smuggling module allegedly controlled by Pakistan’s ISI and operated by UK-based drug handler Lalli. They arrested Amarjot Singh, alias Jota Sandhu, a resident of Bhittewad in Amritsar Rural, and recovered 85 kilograms of heroin.
Already reeling from drug and arms smuggling, the intelligence breaches have forced the state authorities to roll out a multi-layered security strategy. However, the ceasefire agreement ending the week-long tension between India and Pakistan has reduced tensions at the borders, though skepticism remains. Reacting to the arrest of the spies, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hailed the state police for “setting another benchmark of effective policing by arresting traitors involved in spying.”
In a post on X, Mann wrote, “The brave jawans of Punjab Police have foiled a Pakistani spy conspiracy in Amritsar and arrested two traitors. This is not just an arrest, but a patriotic resolve. The Punjab Police deserves full appreciation for this courageous act.” He assured that, as a border state, Punjab Police remains vigilant in safeguarding the borders of the country. Mann also announced the deployment of nine advanced anti-drone systems across sensitive border zones to detect, disable, and destroy enemy UAVs, a rising threat vector in hybrid warfare. According to senior officers from the BSF, since Punjab remains the first line of defence against cross-border infiltration, espionage, and drone warfare, the BSF has also improved its vigilance at the Punjab border. The evolving nature of threats has made real-time intelligence, drone neutralisation technology, and public vigilance even more crucial.
High-level investigations into espionage networks are ongoing, with law enforcement tracking financial channels and encrypted communications. While recent crackdowns have thwarted major plots, officials caution that Punjab must remain on constant alert.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav stated, “Punjab stands at the frontline of our nation’s fight against a sustained proxy war waged by ISI. This is not merely a local concern—it forms part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to destabilise India through a ‘thousand cuts.’”“Punjab Police stands strong with the Indian Army, remains unwavering in its duty to safeguard national interests. Any attempt to undermine the security of our armed forces will be met with firm and immediate action,” he shared in a post on his account on X.