20-year-old’s arrest over espionage triggers national security concerns

A 20-year-old youth from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh was arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan, marking a disturbing incident that underscores the rising threat of digital espionage in the state.

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Abhishek Bhardwaj, a resident of Sukhahar village in Dehra, is now in police custody after officials arrested him acting on a tip-off that suggested his possible links with anti-national activities during a drive conducted when the Operation Sindoor was underway.

According to the press release issued by Dehra Superintendent of Police Mayank Chaudhary, the arrest followed a preliminary investigation that uncovered sensitive documents and images on Bhardwaj’s mobile device, sent for forensic analysis. The authorities believe that he transmitted data having sensitive and objectionable content through social media and online platforms. His Facebook account reportedly had over 3,000 contacts, many of whom were suspected to be based in Pakistan.

Bhardwaj, who is a college dropout, is feared to have been radicalised or manipulated via the internet. During police interrogation, he admitted to having shared sensitive information digitally. Also, his Facebook timeline shows his name jotted down with bullets with pistols around. He has been booked under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a provision in India’s newly revised criminal code that addresses acts threatening national security.

He comes from a financially disadvantaged background, and his father, who works as a driver, only finds work occasionally.

This arrest is not an isolated event. It comes amid increased reports of espionage in northern India. Earlier in May, two individuals in Gurdaspur were arrested for sharing sensitive information about troop movements during Operation Sindoor with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Investigations revealed the use of encrypted messaging and direct contact with ISI handlers.

The Bhardwaj case is part of a larger pattern revealing how vulnerable individuals, often young and digitally active, are targeted online by foreign intelligence operatives.

Experts have raised concerns about the role of emerging technologies, such as AI-generated deepfakes, which are being increasingly used to spread disinformation and manipulate public perception.

Abhishek Bhardwaj was produced before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Dehra on Thursday and was remanded in 5 days’ police custody for further interrogation.