2 Amritsar men arrested for spying for Pakistan, leaking sensitive details: What we know

Punjab Police have arrested two men in Amritsar for allegedly sharing sensitive details with Pakistani agencies.

The two accused have been identified as Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih.

According to police, they were paid Rs 5,000 for sharing minor details, and Rs 10,000 for more serious information, such as updates on military movement.

The arrests took place at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are heightened, following the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam , which left 26 people dead.

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In this explainer, we look at what information the two men shared, how the police tracked them down, and what officers said about the case.

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What happened?

Police on Sunday said Palak and Suraj were arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information and photos of Army cantonment zones and air bases in Amritsar with Pakistan intelligence operatives.

“In a significant counter-espionage operation, Amritsar Rural Police on 3rd May 2025 arrested two persons – Palak Sher Masih & Suraj Masih – for their alleged role in leaking sensitive information and photographs of Army Cantonment areas and Air Bases in Amritsar,” Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav wrote on X.

In a significant counter-espionage operation, Amritsar Rural Police on 3rd May 2025 arrested two persons—Palak Sher Masih & Suraj Masih—for their alleged role in leaking sensitive information and photographs of Army Cantonment areas and Air Bases in Amritsar.

Preliminary…

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) May 4, 2025

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According to Amritsar Rural SSP Maninder Singh, several photos of sensitive sites and phone numbers linked to Pakistan were recovered from their mobile phones, India Today reported.

Initial findings suggest they were in contact with Pakistani intelligence through Harpreet Singh alias Pittu, who is currently in Amritsar Central Jail, the DGP added.

Police said that the two were paid by foreign-based ISI handlers in return for the information. The last set of details was sent just a day earlier, and Rs 10,000 had been received earlier in the week.

According to The Indian Express, the two men are daily-wage workers with a history of drug use, but no past criminal record.

Singh added that the pair became more active after the recent deadly terror strike in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.

In a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, “This is not just an arrest, but a patriotic resolve, for which the Punjab Police deserves congratulations. Being a border state, we are fulfilling our duty towards the country and will continue to fight the nefarious conspiracies of the country’s enemies.”

A case has been filed under the Official Secrets Act, and the investigation is ongoing.

“Further critical revelations are expected as the probe deepens,” the DGP said.

How were they caught?

The operation began on Saturday after the station house officer at Ajnala police station got a tip-off from an informer, who claimed that the accused were often on phone calls, possibly with contacts in Pakistan, ThePrint reported.

SSP Maninder Singh told ANI, “Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav have issued instructions that we immediately arrest and imprison any anti-national element we get information about. One such information was received about Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih, who were in touch with Pakistan Intelligence Operatives, leaking them information about sensitive installations.”

#WATCH | Amritsar, Punjab | Rural Amritsar SSP Maninder Singh says, "Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav have issued instructions that we immediately arrest and imprison any anti-national element we get information about. One such information was received about Palak… https://t.co/IF7uQCNMeL pic.twitter.com/byRZc9p0di

— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2025

Police said they also recovered a large cache of weapons and RDX from the two. SSP Singh stated, “We have recovered a lot of weapons and RDX. First, they used to pick heroin consignments from the border, and now they were asked for such information. When we got this information, the Punjab police quickly acted and arrested them.”

Pahalgam terror attack

Tensions between India and Pakistan have risen sharply after the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which left 26 people dead. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) met the following day and was given a detailed briefing on the incident.

The CCS strongly condemned the attack, offered condolences to the victims’ families, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. During the meeting, officials also pointed to cross-border links in the planning of the attack.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has given the armed forces full freedom to choose their response, including how, when, and where to act.

In response to the attack, the government also decided to suspend the Indus Water Treaty as part of a set of measures aimed at sending a clear message to Pakistan over its support for cross-border terrorism.

India has imposed a complete ban on the import, export and transit of all goods linked to Pakistan, cutting off bilateral trade.

The situation remains tense along the Line of Control and the International Border, with Pakistani troops firing at Indian positions in an attempt to provoke a response.

Indian forces have hit back in all such cases.

With inputs from agencies