Bhubaneswar: Jyoti Malhotra, an Indian travel vlogger from Hisar, Haryana, has been arrested for having ISI links and spying for Pakistan. Jyoti had travelled to Pakistan multiple times. Her vlogs are flooded with content from Pakistani high profile parties, interviews with politicians from Pakistan, army personnels, and so on. Indian authorities cite that she is linked with Pakistani intelligence. Jyoti has 377 thousand subscribers on Youtube and more than 100 thousand followers on Instagram.
Jyoti Malhotra has documented her journey across the globe but one particular destination stands out, which is Pakistan. Her multiple visits to Pakistan and the content shot there raises questions. The images and videos from her vlogs have gone viral lately. Especially the video along with Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Punjab province in Pakistan is spreading like wild fire. The last trip of Jyoti to Pakistan was in March this year.
She is put behind bars by being suspected of being a spy for Pakistan. As per the authorities, Jyoti was in contact with the Pakistani diplomats, officials in their High Commission ( who was expelled after the Pehalgam Attack) in New Delhi. The investigation reveals, Jyoti’s trips were sponsored. She used to meet Pakistani officials, share sensitive informations and she was being developed as an asset. Her family denies these allegations calling it preposterous and she was just vlogging.
This case is just a tip of an ice burg as there has been a digital spy ring that has been busted by NIA. There have been about 11 arrests in the last few days in different sates. These are the people belonging to different walks of life such as business man, techie, student, security guard, social media influencers. They all are connected with the same allegation that is spying for Pakistan.
Another businessman, Shehzad, from UP has been arrested. As stated he was doing cross border trade but investigation says he is an ISI point person. He helps them recruit people, sell Indian currency and SIM cards to them. Another post graduation student, who was spying on Indian Military Installations. He has passed sensitive information about the Patiala Airbase to Pakistan. One of the person allegedly developed an AAP. He made a disdained touch with the Pakistani handlers. There are more on the list and investigation is continuing.
These arresrt reveal a very shocking and complex way of espionage. But it not a new scenario. Pakistani ISI has a long past of casting its net on Indian young civilians. They do not rely on known assets but blend the strategy to capture ordinary people, exploit their vulnerability and use them as tools for a larger machine. The strategy is of low visibility and high impact game for ISI. Use the unlikely, stay off the radar, keep it plausible and do not leave a trace. This is the reason why it is so difficult to stop it.
-OdishaAge
