— ARRESTED ACCUSED GAGANDEEP WAS IN CONTACT WITH PAK-BASED KHALISTANI SUPPORTER GOPAL SINGH CHAWLA
— ACCUSED RECEIVED PAYMENTS FROM PAKISTANI HANDLERS; FURTHER PROBE ON TO UNCOVER FULL NETWORK: SSP TARN TARAN ABHIMANYU RANA
Chandigarh/Tarn Taran, June 3:
In a major counter-espionage operation amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence Punjab in joint operation with Tarn Taran Police has arrested an individual— linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), for sharing sensitive information concerning army movements during Operation Sindoor, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday.
The arrested accused has been identified as Gagandeep Singh alias Gagan, a resident of Mohalla Rodupur in Tarn Taran.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that accused Gagandeep Singh was in direct contact with Pakistan-based Khalistani supporter Gopal Singh Chawla for past five years, through whom he was introduced to Pakistani Intelligence Operatives (PIOs). Investigations have also revealed that the arrested accused had been sharing classified information, including troop deployments, strategic locations, and army movements during ‘Operation Sindoor’, posing a serious threat to national security, he said.
He said that police teams have recovered two mobile devices from the possession of accused Gagandeep, containing sensitive intelligence that he shared with the PIOs, as well as the details of over 20 ISI contacts. The accused has also received payments from PIOs via Indian Channels, he said.
The DGP said that thorough financial and technical investigations are underway to trace other linkages and establish the full scope of this espionage network.
Sharing operation details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Tarn Taran Abhimanyu Rana said that acting on specific intelligence from CI Punjab, a team led by SP City Dr Riputapan Singh Sandhu and DSP (D) Gurinderpal Singh Nagra arrested accused Gagandeep Singh from near Muradpura in Tarn Taran, and seized his mobile devices.
“During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was tasked by ISI handlers to gather sensitive information about deployment in border area, including railway stations and Amritsar city. He was also receiving monetary benefits for espionage activities,” said the SSP. Further investigation is on and more arrests are likely in coming days, he added.
A case under FIR No. 137, dated June 03, 2025, has been registered under sections 3, 4, 5 and 21 of the Official Secrets Act and section 152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station City Tarn Taran.
