15-year-old radicalised online, linked to Pakistan-based terror handlers: Punjab police

Punjab Police on Monday arrested a 15-year-old boy for allegedly sharing sensitive national security-related information with Pakistan-based terror organisations, including the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and individuals linked to the Pakistani military, officials said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Pathankot Daljinder Singh Dhillon said preliminary investigations indicate that the minor had been radicalised over time and was being remotely handled by operatives across the border. The teenager had allegedly been in contact with Pakistan-based handlers for nearly a year after being lured through social media platforms.

According to the police, the boy is accused of sending videos of sensitive locations and maintaining communication with Pakistan-based gangsters involved in running a terror module. Officials said the case highlights growing concerns among security agencies about the increasing use of minors in terror-related activities, as children are easier to approach, influence and radicalise through digital platforms.

“The minor was emotionally vulnerable and was manipulated through social media. He was under the impression that his father had been murdered , which affected his mental state. However, the investigation has found no evidence to support this belief,” SSP Dhillon said, adding that this vulnerability was allegedly exploited by hostile agencies to draw him into their network.

Police officials stated that the accused was allegedly supplying information to frontal organisations linked to Pakistan-backed terror networks. Authorities described the development as alarming, underlining how terror groups are increasingly targeting younger individuals to avoid detection and exploit their susceptibility to online influence.

Further investigation is underway to determine the extent of the information shared and to identify additional links, including the handlers involved.

The arrest comes amid heightened security vigilance in Punjab following the recent dismantling of an ISI-backed terror module. Earlier on December 2, Punjab Police, in coordination with central and state agencies, busted an international terror network linked to a grenade attack on a police station in Gurdaspur.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Border Range Sandeep Goyal had said the module was planning multiple attacks aimed at triggering communal tension. The network was allegedly led by terrorist Shahzad Bhatti , along with associates Zeeshan Akhtar and Amandeep Singh alias Aman Pannu.

Police said the group had already carried out a hand grenade attack and was planning another strike, which was foiled following the arrest of two operatives and the recovery of weapons and explosives. Investigations in both cases are ongoing.