Peace vlogs advance into spy thriller: Mole subscribed to views of Pakistani handlers?

CHANDIGARH: A Pakistani YouTuber who presents himself as apeace activist uniting families divided by Partition is under investigation by Indian authorities for possible links to an alleged espionage ring involving cross-border operatives.Nasir Dhillon, a former police official based in Lahore and the face behind the YouTube channel Punjabi Lehar, is being probed for his alleged association with Indian YouTuber Jasbir Singh, whom Punjab Police had arrested after Operation Sindoor on the charges of spying for Pakistan.

Police claim that his Mahlan villager from Punjab’s Ropar district met Dhillon on four separate trips to Pakistan after they connected as fellow vloggers.

Investigators also claim that Dhillon helped facilitate Jasbir Singh’s visa and visits and may have used his influence to enable the repeated cross-border meetings.A senior police officer told TOI: “Dhillon’s name surfaced during Jasbir’s interrogation. His contact was among roughly 150 suspicious Pakistani numbers found on Jasbir’s mobile phone. The role of Dhillon and his potential link to Pakistani intelligence is under close scrutiny.”

Authorities are also examining Jasbir Singh’s ties to other suspected operatives, including Shakir ‘Jutt Randhawa’ — a terror-linked Pakistani intelligence officer — and Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested previously for espionage.Investigators suspect that Jasbir Singh may have deleted sensitive data from his mobile phone before his arrest. A forensic examination of the device is underway to recover any communications with Pakistani handlers. “We’re not concerned about his identity as a content creator or peacebuilder,” said a police official. “This is a matter of national security. The patterns of his visits and interactions raise serious red flags.”Jasbir Singh, who once worked as a cook in Europe before becoming a YouTuber, reportedly showcased the construction of his house in online videos — raising questions about his income sources. Police are conducting financial inquiries into the funding of his travels, content operations, and declared income.Punjabi Lehar, Dhillon’s YouTube channel with 8.4 lakh subscribers, features emotional reunions of families separated since 1947 at the Kartarpur Corridor. It also showcases interviews with Pakistani artists, politicians, and intellectuals. Police argue that this kind of online platforms, while appearing benign, can be exploited by the enemy’s spy agencies for influence operations. “Repeated unrestricted contact between individuals across borders is rare unless sanctioned at higher levels,” said one officer. “If the roles were reversed — if Dhillon had visited India so frequently — he would have been flagged immediately.”Authorities have not yet released all evidence, but suggest that more disclosures may follow as the investigation progresses.