YouTuber and Travel Blogger with 370,000 Followers
Police Claim "Contact with Operative During Four Days of Fighting"
Indian security authorities have recently arrested a well-known influencer on charges of leaking military secrets to Pakistan, amid recent armed clashes involving missile attacks between the two countries.
According to CNN on the 21st (local time), influencer Jyoti Malhotra, who resides in Haryana in northern India, has been indicted on charges of sharing sensitive information with Pakistan.
Indian soldiers standing guard near a forward post along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan. Photo by AP Yonhap News
CNN reported, "It is not the first time an influencer has been arrested on espionage charges in India or Pakistan, but the fact that another such incident occurred just days after the two countries experienced their most intense clashes in decades has heightened fears."
Malhotra is a YouTuber and travel blogger with 370,000 subscribers. Content posted in March shows her using public transportation in Pakistan and exploring local markets. Malhotra is accused of being involved in gathering information related to the Indian military. Indian security sources stated that she was previously seen with Pakistani officials and was even designated as a persona non grata by the Indian government.
Police claim that Malhotra made contact with Pakistani intelligence agents and maintained communication with an operative during four days of intense fighting earlier this month. They added, "During interrogation, it was revealed that she is a travel blogger, and she fell into a trap while seeking views, followers, and viral content."
According to police, Malhotra traveled to Pakistan on a "sponsored trip" and contacted other influencers who had communicated with Pakistani intelligence agents. They further explained, "She likely did not have direct access to defense or military information."
Until the outbreak of conflict this month, it was possible for people to travel freely between Pakistan and India. Tensions between India and Pakistan began in the aftermath of a massacre of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. In the village of Pahalgam, armed assailants killed 26 tourists, prompting India to accelerate military operations targeting Pakistani territory. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, and for four days, the two neighboring countries exchanged missiles, drones, and artillery fire, resulting in dozens of deaths on both sides. The two countries agreed to a ceasefire on the 10th.
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