A major espionage network involving six Indian nationals has been uncovered, with the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, a Haryana-based travel blogger known for her YouTube channel “Travel with Jo,” among others. The accused have been charged with sharing sensitive information with Pakistani intelligence operatives and coordinating through encrypted digital platforms.

Authorities report that Jyoti Malhotra had traveled to Pakistan in 2023 using a visa acquired through commission agents. During her visit, she developed close ties with Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, an official at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. Danish, who has since been expelled from India and declared persona non grata on May 13, 2025, allegedly introduced her to several Pakistani intelligence operatives (PIOs).

Jyoti reportedly stayed in touch with these operatives through encrypted messaging applications like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Snapchat. One of the operatives, identified as Shakir alias Rana Shahbaz, was saved in her contacts under the alias “Jatt Randhawa.” She is alleged to have passed on location-sensitive information related to Indian territories and promoted pro-Pakistan content on her social media platforms. Investigations also reveal that she entered into an intimate relationship with one of the operatives and accompanied him on an overseas trip to Bali, Indonesia.

Additional arrests in the case include Yameen Mohd from Malerkotla, who played a crucial role in facilitating financial transactions and handling visa-related tasks on behalf of the Pakistani handlers. Devinder Singh Dhillon, a Sikh student from Kaithal, Haryana, was allegedly recruited during a religious pilgrimage to Pakistan; he is accused of recording and sending video footage of the Patiala cantonment to his Pakistani contacts. Another individual, Arman from Nuh, Haryana, is believed to have procured Indian SIM cards, transferred funds, and visited the Defence Expo 2025 as directed by Pakistani intelligence operatives, further aiding the espionage network’s operations within India.

Officials stated that the espionage ring targeted vulnerable individuals across religious and social lines, manipulating them through emotional connections, monetary gifts, and false promises of marriage. The network spanned both Haryana and Punjab, operating through a web of digital communication, financial incentives, and covert interactions with Pakistani intelligence personnel.

All accused have reportedly confessed to their involvement, and investigations are ongoing to identify additional links and prevent further breaches of national security.

In a significant security breach amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions, Haryana police have arrested Devendra Singh, a 25-year-old resident of Mastgarh Cheeka village, for allegedly sharing classified information with the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Singh, a postgraduate diploma student, reportedly began his contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives in November last year during a pilgrimage to the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan.

According to police officials, Singh provided sensitive intelligence regarding Operation Sindoor, a covert Indian military operation, and details about the ongoing military and diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan. The information was reportedly passed to Pakistani agencies over a period of months, raising serious concerns about national security and internal vulnerabilities.

DSP Veerbhan of Kaithal police stated that the arrest came after district police received credible intelligence inputs about Singh’s activities. “Our special detective staff acted swiftly to detain Singh, and the cyber police station is conducting an exhaustive investigation of the electronic devices recovered from him,” he said. Authorities are probing whether Singh had accomplices or was part of a larger espionage network.

Further investigations revealed that Singh was pursuing a Master’s degree in political science at a college in Punjab before his arrest. His journey to the Nankana Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan last November is being scrutinized, as it is believed to be the point of contact with Pakistani intelligence agents. Officials fear that Singh might have been exploited under the guise of religious pilgrimage to pass on sensitive information.

This incident comes shortly after the arrest of another young man, Nauman Illahi, 24, from Panipat, Haryana, who was similarly accused of providing sensitive information to Pakistan. In Punjab, two more individuals, Palak Sher Masih and Suraj Masih, were recently apprehended for allegedly sharing details of Indian military installations in Amritsar with the ISI.

The pattern of arrests has raised alarms about potential intelligence leaks and espionage activities aimed at compromising India’s military operations and strategic security. Law enforcement agencies have reiterated their commitment to thoroughly investigating these cases and ensuring strict legal action against those involved.

With tensions between India and Pakistan escalating, the Indian security establishment remains vigilant against any attempts to undermine national security through espionage or unauthorized dissemination of information. The ongoing investigations into Devendra Singh’s activities are expected to shed more light on the extent of the security breach and help authorities plug any gaps that may exist in internal surveillance and counter-intelligence measures.

A French aviation and defense expert has dismissed Pakistan’s claims of shooting down Indian Rafale fighter jets during recent military clashes, calling the assertions baseless and part of an ongoing information war between the two nations.

The controversy erupted following India’s Operation Sindoor, a series of strikes targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan claimed it had downed five Indian jets, including three Rafales, during the night of May 6-7, 2025. However, Xavier Tytelman, a noted French aviation expert cited by France24, refuted these claims, pointing to inconsistencies in the evidence Islamabad presented.

Tytelman analyzed images circulating online that supposedly showed debris from a downed Rafale in Wuyan, Kashmir. He clarified that the wreckage was actually an external fuel tank from a Mirage 2000, another French-made jet used by the Indian Air Force, and not a Rafale. The tank bore the marking “RPL” (réservoir pendular large), a designation unique to Mirage 2000s, with a manufacturing date of December 1984 confirming its origin. “This has no connection to the Rafale, which uses the RFL designation,” Tytelman explained, adding that such tanks are often jettisoned during missions and do not indicate a crash.

These expert findings align with wider skepticism regarding Pakistan’s claims. Neither Dassault Aviation, the Rafale’s manufacturer, nor the Indian government has officially acknowledged any losses. Pakistan’s statements, including those by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, have relied heavily on unverified images and videos, such as footage showing an unexploded Mica missile that could belong to either a Mirage 2000 or a Rafale.

The incident has sparked debate, with some accusing Western media, particularly in the U.S., of amplifying the narrative to undermine the Rafale’s reputation in the global arms market. An article in the Eurasian Times suggested that highlighting the alleged Rafale losses may be a strategic move to promote American fighter jets in India, which is currently negotiating several multi-billion-dollar aerospace deals.

Operation Sindoor marked India’s first strikes on Pakistani territory since the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, targeting nine terror sites linked to attacks like the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and the recent Pahalgam massacre. While widely praised in India for sending a strong message to terror groups, the operation has escalated tensions with Pakistan, causing civilian casualties due to retaliatory shelling in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

Analysts say the Rafale controversy underscores the role of misinformation in modern conflicts. “This isn’t just about a piece of debris—it’s about who controls the narrative,” Tytelman observed, urging India to issue robust public rebuttals to counter false claims. As the fragile ceasefire between India and Pakistan continues, the incident highlights the challenge of discerning truth amid the fog of war.

In a significant counter-terrorism breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested two key ISIS-linked fugitives, Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh alias Diaperwala and Talha Khan, at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The duo, evading arrest for over two years, was intercepted by immigration authorities at Terminal 2 upon arrival from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Their arrests are connected to the 2023 ISIS sleeper cell case (RC-05/2023/NIA/MUM) in Pune, where a group of radicalized operatives allegedly conspired to destabilize India through terrorist activities. According to the NIA, Shaikh and Khan, along with eight other accused already in judicial custody, had assembled improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and conducted training sessions and controlled blasts in a rented house in Pune’s Kondhwa area during 2022 and 2023.

The case marks one of the most serious ISIS-related domestic threats uncovered in recent years. Non-bailable warrants had been issued against the fugitives by the NIA Special Court in Mumbai, with a cash reward of ₹3 lakh offered for information leading to their arrest.

Among the others chargesheeted in the case are Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, Simab Nasiruddin Kazi, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Shamil Nachan, Akif Nachan, and Shahnawaz Alam. The charges include violations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code.

The operation demonstrates the effectiveness of the NIA’s expanded mandate under the National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019, which allows the agency to investigate terror-related offenses committed outside Indian territory, subject to international laws and cooperation.

This latest development underscores the enduring threat posed by ISIS sleeper cells and the need for constant vigilance. The NIA reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terrorist networks and preventing India from becoming a target of transnational extremist conspiracies.

A technical officer from Khammam, currently posted in the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir, has fallen victim to an elaborate cyber fraud, losing Rs 55 lakh to scammers posing as stock market investment advisors. The officer lodged a complaint on Thursday, revealing a months-long deception that began with a WhatsApp message in January.

According to police reports, the officer was contacted by unknown individuals who promised high returns on investments in initial public offerings (IPOs). Although he initially ignored the messages, he eventually responded in February seeking more information. He was then added to a WhatsApp group named “BVIP29 BN Rathi Internal Group”.

Searching online, he found a legitimate company, BN Rathi Securities Ltd., listed as being based in Hyderabad. After calling the contact numbers available online and receiving confirmation of the firm’s existence, he was convinced of its authenticity and proceeded to engage with the group.

The group administrator, identified as Hersh Tolani, provided investment advice and asked the officer to download a trading application. The officer began using the app on March 10 and made several investments based on Tolani’s instructions.

On May 5, Tolani requested a final transfer of Rs 3.8 lakh. When the officer suggested debiting it directly from his supposed BN Rathi account and was met with repeated requests for manual transfer, he grew suspicious. Contacting the actual company again, he was informed that BN Rathi Securities had no connection to any WhatsApp investment groups and that scammers were misusing their name.

Realising he had been defrauded, the officer reported the incident. A case has been registered by the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) and the Cyber Crime Police Station (CCPS) of Khammam under Sections 61(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act.

Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and verify the authenticity of any investment offers, especially those received via social media or messaging platforms.

In a rare and candid disclosure, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly confirmed that Indian ballistic missiles struck deep into Pakistani territory, including the strategic Nur Khan Airbase, during the early hours of May 10. Addressing a public gathering in Islamabad, Sharif recounted a 2:30 AM secure phone call from the Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, alerting him to the Indian strikes.

The Nur Khan Airbase, formerly known as Chaklala and situated between Rawalpindi and Islamabad, has long been central to Pakistan’s military aviation. Sharif stated that one missile had hit this key facility, while several others landed at additional military sites.

The strikes were part of Operation Sindoor, launched by India on May 7 in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian civilians and security personnel. Indian government sources claim the operation led to the elimination of around 100 terrorists affiliated with groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Coordinated by the Indian Air Force, Army, and Navy, Operation Sindoor targeted terror camps and strategic installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Key targets reportedly included airbases, radar systems, and communications infrastructure in at least 11 locations. Among the first to be hit were the Pakistani Air Force bases at Chaklala (Nur Khan) and Sargodha, with subsequent impacts confirmed via satellite imagery at Jacobabad, Bholari, and Skardu.

Also Read: India Becomes The First Country to Strike 11 Air Bases of a Nuclear Powered Country

Following the Indian strikes, Pakistan responded with artillery fire across the Line of Control and launched several drone and missile attacks targeting Indian military assets in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat. This prompted India to launch secondary precision strikes against Pakistani radar and logistics installations.

Indian intelligence reportedly intercepted emergency communications within the Pakistani military shortly after the strikes, suggesting a high-level alert for nuclear command structures. Strategic Plans Division offices in Rawalpindi were believed to have been placed on maximum alert.

Amid mounting international concern, Pakistan sought urgent intervention from the United States. Indian sources indicate that Washington urged Islamabad to activate the military hotline. At 15:35 IST on May 10, Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations, Major General Kashif Abdullah, contacted his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai. The call was confirmed later that evening by India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

The hotline communication led to a mutual agreement to halt all military operations by land, sea, and air starting the evening of May 10. Despite the ceasefire, Indian systems detected and intercepted multiple Pakistani drones over Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat in the hours that followed.

Foreign Secretary Misri accused Pakistan of violating the ceasefire and emphasized that India’s military responses were measured and proportionate. He further stated that India would remain vigilant against any further provocation.

India also reiterated that its suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, announced following the April 22 attack, would remain in effect despite the ceasefire.