50 under lens for links with arrested ‘spies’

The Punjab Police are carrying out a massive probe to unravel the activities and antecedents of nearly 50 persons from Punjab who were in “touch” with the six suspects caught in the state for spying for Pakistan this month.

Police sources said following the India-Pakistan conflict, the six suspects were caught in Pathankot, Malerkotla, Bathinda and Gurdaspur. Following technical and human investigation, these 50 persons were identified as their direct or indirect associates and were under scrutiny now.

These suspects have not been detained.

Police sources said all contacts of the alleged spies were being verified to dig deep into the activities of these 50 individuals. Sources said most of those questioned had claimed innocence about the secret work of the “spies”, but would get a clean chit only after thorough verification.

The arrested spies include five men and a woman.

On May 8, the Malerkotla Police had arrested Guzala and Yameen Mohammad for allegedly providing military information to Pakistani official Danish. Guzala met Danish at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and became his informant, sharing details about the Army activities in exchange for money.

Investigations revealed that Danish had instructed Yameen, a passport and visa agent, to transfer funds to Guzala. She received Rs 10,000 from Yameen and Rs 20,000 directly from Danish, forwarding respective shares to other sources. Both suspects were presented in court, and police secured their remand until May 12, as further inquiries continue into their espionage links.

On May 12, the Pathankot police arrested Neeraj Kumar, a 28-year-old salesman, for allegedly issuing SIM cards to unauthorised individuals using fraudulent documentation. The incident came to light after Mohit Kumar, a resident of Shahpurkandi, filed a complaint, stating that he had purchased a SIM card from Neeraj in 2020, but later discovered that another SIM had been issued on his documents without his consent. Investigations revealed that the unauthorised SIM card was active in Pakistan before being deactivated, prompting the registration of an FIR under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code.

In Bathinda, on May 12, the local police registered an FIR against Rakib, a tailor employed at the Bathinda cantonment, for allegedly being in contact with suspected Pakistan intelligence operatives and possessing sensitive military documents. The matter was brought to the authorities by military officials, who handed over Rakib, along with two mobile phones suspected to contain crucial evidence. During interrogation, Rakib disclosed that he had received calls and voice messages from Pakistani numbers in January 2025, but claimed he did not engage with them. He further admitted to possessing military documents that had been left behind by Army personnel at his shop.

In Gurdaspur, Sukhpreet Singh and Karanbir Singh were arrested allegedly for sharing classified details related to Operation Sindoor, India’s action against Pakistan in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 27 Indian tourists.

The spy allegedly sent information, including troop movements and key strategic locations in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.