A man from Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district narrowly avoided becoming entangled in a suspected honeytrap operation allegedly linked to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), according to security officials.
The case came to light after security agencies reportedly intercepted WhatsApp communications originating from Pakistan and conducted a raid at the man's residence. Following questioning, authorities concluded that he had neither shared sensitive information nor fallen prey to the alleged espionage attempt.
Friendship began with a Facebook comment
According to The Indian Express, the man, believed to be in his mid-30s, had uploaded a video showing snowfall in his area in December last year. A woman claiming to be from Kashmir commented on the post, leading to a conversation that gradually developed into an online friendship.
Officials said the two exchanged messages on Facebook for several months before the woman requested his WhatsApp number in March.
The relationship took a different turn when the man noticed that messages were arriving from a number carrying the +92 country code, identifying the caller as being from Pakistan.
Alleged offer of money for security information
According to The Indian Express, police sources said that when the man confronted the woman about her identity, she allegedly offered him money in exchange for photographs and information related to deployments of Indian security forces in border and hinterland areas.
Officials claim he refused the proposal and blocked the number.
However, the communications reportedly did not stop. Investigators said he subsequently received calls and messages from multiple Pakistani numbers, with a combination of inducements and threats allegedly being used to pressure him into cooperating.
By the time security agencies intervened, the man had reportedly blocked nearly a dozen such numbers.
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Security agencies questioned and released him
According to The Indian Express, following surveillance of the communications, security personnel took the man into custody for questioning.
After examining his background and reviewing his interactions, investigators concluded that he had resisted the alleged recruitment attempts and had not been radicalised or involved in any anti-national activity.
A senior police officer said the individual had "resisted temptations and threats" and was eventually released. However, authorities indicated that he would remain under observation as a precautionary measure.
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Part of a broader pattern
According to The Indian Express, security agencies believe the incident reflects a continuing effort by hostile intelligence networks to exploit social media platforms for recruitment and information gathering.
Officials noted that this was not the first alleged honeytrap attempt in Jammu and Kashmir. Just weeks earlier, a young man from the region was arrested on suspicion of spying after allegedly being lured through social media by a woman believed to be linked to Pakistani intelligence.
Investigators say such operations often begin with seemingly harmless online interactions before gradually shifting toward requests for sensitive information, financial inducements or coercive tactics.
