Jaipur: A suspected drug peddler allegedly working for Pakistan-based handlers and supplying Indian SIM cards to them was arrested in Sriganganagar on Saturday, prompting police to investigate possible links between cross-border narcotics networks and espionage activities.
The arrest of Balvinder Singh alias Bindu has led investigators to examine his alleged contacts with operatives based in Pakistan and determine whether other individuals were involved in procuring and transferring Indian mobile connections across the international border.
Police are also investigating whether the alleged network was being used to recruit or facilitate operatives for espionage and other activities considered prejudicial to national security.
Accused allegedly supplied Indian SIM cards
Sriganganagar Superintendent of Police Hari Shankar said Balvinder Singh was allegedly operating in the border belt at the direction of handlers based in Pakistan.
Investigators have begun examining the accused’s communication and financial links to establish the extent of his alleged association with the Pakistan-based network.
According to police, Singh was not merely involved in narcotics trafficking but was also allegedly supplying Indian SIM cards to his handlers across the border.
The investigation will focus on determining how the mobile connections were procured and transferred and whether the accused had assistance from others operating within India.
Police are also examining whether the identities of other people were allegedly misused to obtain the SIM cards.
WhatsApp accounts allegedly activated in Pakistan
Investigators have reportedly found that Singh was also facilitating the activation of WhatsApp accounts in Pakistan using Indian mobile numbers.
The finding has added another dimension to the investigation, with authorities seeking to determine how the Indian numbers were being used after they were allegedly transferred to Pakistan.
Investigators are examining the source of the SIM cards, the documentation used to obtain them and the method through which the connections were allegedly moved across the border.
The police probe will also seek to establish whether the numbers were used only for communication or whether they were connected to wider criminal or anti-national activities.
Police probe possible cross-border network
The case has prompted investigators to examine whether established narcotics networks operating in border areas are also being used to facilitate espionage-related activities.
Police are investigating the possibility that individuals already involved in illegal cross-border drug trafficking could be recruited by Pakistan-based handlers for other purposes.
However, the investigation is still at an early stage, and the alleged espionage links will have to be established through evidence.
Authorities are questioning Singh about his handlers, SIM-card suppliers and other associates who may have helped procure or transfer the mobile connections.
Investigators are also expected to examine digital records and communication links to identify the persons allegedly communicating with the accused.
Accused already wanted in drug case
According to police, Singh had been involved in narcotics trafficking well before the alleged links to Pakistan-based handlers came to light.
He is wanted in connection with a case registered at Jaitsar police station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
His alleged involvement in the drug case is now being examined alongside the new allegations concerning the supply of Indian SIM cards.
Police are likely to investigate whether his existing contacts in the narcotics trade provided him with access to people or networks capable of facilitating cross-border activities.
More arrests possible
A police officer said Singh was being questioned about his alleged handlers, SIM-card suppliers and other associates.
The officer indicated that further arrests could follow if the investigation establishes the involvement of additional people.
The probe will therefore focus not only on Singh’s individual role but also on identifying the broader network, if one exists.
Investigators will need to establish who supplied the Indian mobile connections, whose identities were used during the registration process, who received the SIM cards and how they were transferred across the border.
The alleged activation of WhatsApp accounts using Indian numbers in Pakistan could also provide investigators with leads regarding the identities and locations of people associated with the network.
Border security concerns
The case has raised concerns over the misuse of Indian mobile connections in cross-border criminal and security-related activities.
Indian SIM cards are subject to identity verification requirements, making investigators’ efforts to trace how the numbers were obtained and transferred particularly important.
Authorities are expected to examine the documentation associated with the SIM cards and verify whether the identities used for obtaining them were genuine or allegedly misused.
The investigation could also help determine whether Singh was acting independently or as part of a larger organised network.
For now, police have not disclosed the full details of the alleged Pakistan-based handlers or the extent of Singh’s suspected activities.
The questioning of the accused and examination of his contacts are expected to provide further leads.
The case combines allegations of narcotics trafficking with suspected cross-border facilitation, making the ongoing investigation significant for both law enforcement and border security agencies. Any further action will depend on evidence gathered during the probe and the identification of others allegedly connected to the network.