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| Spy camera on NH-44: Pathankot man arrested for sending live troop feeds to Pakistan | | |  Atul Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 22: Days after intelligence agencies exposed a Pakistan-backed espionage network that used solar-powered surveillance cameras to monitor sensitive military locations, Punjab Police have arrested a man from Pathankot for allegedly transmitting live footage of troop movements to handlers across the border.
The accused, identified as Baljit Singh, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village in Pathankot district, was arrested on charges of espionage and aiding Pakistan-based operatives by providing real-time surveillance inputs from a strategically important stretch along the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway.
According to Punjab Police, preliminary investigations revealed that Singh had installed an internet-enabled CCTV camera at a shop located near a bridge on National Highway-44, a crucial route frequently used by Army and paramilitary forces for movement between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Investigators suspect that the camera was deliberately positioned to monitor the movement of security forces and that the live feed was being transmitted directly to Pakistan-based handlers.
Police officials said that during sustained questioning, Singh admitted to installing the internet-based surveillance camera in January this year. The device allegedly remained operational for several months, continuously capturing activities in the area.
The probe has further revealed that the accused was allegedly acting under the instructions of an unidentified individual based in Dubai, who is believed to have coordinated the operation. According to investigators, Singh was paid Rs 40,000 for installing and maintaining the surveillance equipment.
The CCTV camera used in the operation has been recovered and seized as evidence.
The arrest assumes significance as it comes close on the heels of a major crackdown on Pakistan's intelligence-backed spying networks operating in Punjab and adjoining border regions.
Last month, security agencies dismantled two espionage modules allegedly backed by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) that were u “The accused was allegedly acting under the instructions of an unidentified individual based in Dubai, who is believed to have coordinated the operation. According to investigators, Singh was paid Rs 40,000 for installing and maintaining the surveillance equipment.”
One such module was unearthed by the Counter Intelligence Wing of Punjab Police in Jalandhar, leading to the arrest of an operative and the recovery of a China-made CCTV camera equipped with a USB-connected solar panel and 4G connectivity.
In a separate operation, Kapurthala Police, working in coordination with a central intelligence agency, dismantled another espionage network and arrested two suspects. Security forces recovered four mobile phones allegedly linked to foreign handlers, besides seizing a SIM-enabled CCTV camera and a WiFi communication device.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav had earlier disclosed that the espionage modules were strategically installing SIM-based, solar-powered surveillance cameras at locations overlooking defence-related establishments and security-sensitive sites.
According to officials, the cameras were capable of transmitting live video feeds directly to handlers in Pakistan through mobile applications, allowing them to monitor military activities in real time without requiring physical access to the locations.
“These cameras are particularly suited for covert surveillance because they operate independently through solar power and 4G connectivity, eliminating the need for conventional wiring and making detection difficult,” a senior police officer said.
Security agencies are now examining whether the Pathankot case is linked to the previously busted espionage modules and are probing the possibility of a wider cross-border surveillance network operating in the border belt of Punjab and Jammu.
The latest arrest has once again highlighted the evolving tactics being employed by hostile intelligence agencies, which are increasingly relying on commercially available surveillance technology, internet connectivity, and local operatives to gather sensitive information about security force movements and strategic installations in border areas. |
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