Ferozepur: The arrest of a couple in Punjab over an alleged honey-trapping operation has brought attention to suspected attempts to obtain sensitive information about Indian Army movements and military installations near the Pakistan border.
The couple lived in Kalu Wala village in Ferozepur district. Investigators suspect that they were involved in gathering and sharing sensitive information about Army deployments in border areas. The woman is also accused of posing as a police officer to gain access to confidential details.
Officials believe the case points to a wider concern involving Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its alleged efforts to gather information through honey-trapping and fake identities.
An Intelligence Bureau official said honey-trapping had been used for years to obtain sensitive information. However, investigators are increasingly concerned about fake communication channels that impersonate senior Army and police officers.
Fake Officer Channels Use Urgent Messages
According to officials, these fake channels may remain inactive while their operators identify junior officers who could be targeted. They then send messages that appear to come from senior officials, often creating a false sense of urgency.
The pressure to respond quickly can lead junior personnel to share information without first checking whether the message is genuine. Officials said the fake channels are often shut down after the required information has been collected, making it difficult to trace those behind them.
Some messages reportedly ask lower-ranking personnel to bypass established procedures or provide access to unauthorised networks. Officials have warned that such tactics can put sensitive military information at risk.
Changing Tactics Pose Challenge for Intelligence Agencies
Officials said the suspected use of short-lived impersonation networks presents a challenge for Indian intelligence agencies. A channel may be used for a single operation before being closed and replaced with another, making it harder to connect cases and identify those responsible.
Security agencies have busted several suspected espionage modules and disrupted honey-trapping networks through intelligence-led operations, officials said. They believe the latest tactics reflect continued attempts to obtain information about Indian armed forces through different methods.
Operation Sindoor, launched in May 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack, forms part of the wider security context between India and Pakistan. Officials say the changing methods used to seek military information require personnel to remain alert to suspicious messages and verify requests that appear to come from senior officers.
The Punjab case has once again drawn attention to the risks posed by impersonation and honey-trapping. Investigators are examining the allegations against the arrested couple, while officials have stressed the importance of following security protocols before sharing sensitive information.