Punjab Police Arrest Two for Leaking Sensitive Military Information to Pakistan
Arrests Made in Espionage Case
On Saturday, authorities in Punjab apprehended two individuals accused of disclosing confidential information and images of Army installations and air bases located in Amritsar to Pakistani intelligence agents.
The Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, named the suspects as Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih. Initial investigations indicated their connections to Pakistani intelligence, facilitated by a third individual, Harpreet Singh, who is currently incarcerated in Amritsar Central Jail.
“A case has been filed under the Official Secrets Act, and the investigation is ongoing,” Yadav stated on social media. “We anticipate further significant findings as the inquiry progresses.”
Maninder Singh, the senior superintendent of police for Amritsar Rural, informed a local media outlet that intelligence had been received regarding the suspects' communications with Pakistani operatives and their leaking of sensitive information.
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.
— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) May 4, 2025
Preliminary…
“They had another associate, Harpreet, who connected them with the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan], and we plan to bring him from Amritsar Jail using a production warrant,” Singh was quoted as saying.
“Harpreet Singh already had a narcotics case against him,” he continued. “We have filed an FIR under the Official Secrets Act and the Information Technology Act and are thoroughly investigating the situation.”
Preliminary findings revealed that Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih were compensated between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 for sensitive details, including troop movements, according to Singh. The police also seized a stockpile of weapons and explosive RDX during the investigation.
“Previously, they were involved in smuggling heroin from the border, but now they have shifted to providing such information,” the police officer stated. “They were sharing details about critical military installations and troop movements with Pakistani agents, thereby aiding the enemy’s agenda.”
Yadav emphasized on social media: “Punjab Police stands resolutely with the Indian Army and is committed to protecting national interests. Any efforts to compromise the security of our armed forces will be met with decisive and immediate action.”
The arrests follow the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, which resulted in 26 fatalities and 17 injuries.
During the attack, militants targeted tourists, primarily from outside the state, after confirming their identities to determine their religion, according to police reports. Except for three victims, all who perished were Hindu.
In the aftermath of the attack, India and Pakistan have enacted a series of diplomatic responses against each other. India has implemented a second set of measures against Pakistan, including restricting water flow through the Baglihar dam and prohibiting the docking of vessels owned by Pakistan.
Previously, New Delhi had suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals and announced that all valid visas would be revoked by April 27, with the exception of medical visas, which remained valid until April 29. Pakistani citizens in India under the SAARC visa scheme were given 48 hours to exit.
By the end of the deadline, 537 Pakistani nationals had departed India via the Attari-Wagah border crossing in Punjab.
India also declared that the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty would be suspended until Pakistan “credibly and irrevocably” ceased its support for cross-border terrorism.