India
oi-Prakash KL
Security agencies in Punjab have uncovered a sophisticated espionage network linked to Pakistan’s intelligence apparatus, leading to the arrest of a man from Pathankot district. The suspect, identified as Baljit Singh of Chakk Dhariwal village, was apprehended for allegedly installing an internet-based CCTV camera to monitor the movements of Indian Army and paramilitary forces.
The camera, positioned at a shop near a bridge on the strategically vital Pathankot-Jammu stretch of National Highway-44, was reportedly utilized to stream live, sensitive footage directly to handlers stationed in Pakistan.
Punjab Police uncovered a Pakistan intelligence-linked espionage network, arresting Baljit Singh in Pathankot for using internet CCTV cameras to monitor Indian Army movements and stream footage to Pakistan handlers, with further arrests linking the ring to Narco-terrorism and cross-border drug smuggling.
Upon interrogation, Singh confessed that he had been acting under instructions from an unidentified contact based in Dubai, who compensated him with a payment of Rs 40,000 for facilitating the surveillance operation.
This arrest is part of a broader, deeply concerning pattern of cross-border espionage. Punjab Police recently dismantled two other ISI-backed modules that employed advanced, China-made, solar-powered CCTV cameras equipped with 4G connectivity.
Pathankot Police achieves a major breakthrough by busting a module linked to national security concerns. One accused has been arrested for installing a CCTV camera whose live feed was being shared with anti-national elements. pic.twitter.com/J4aW108qQs
— Pathankot Police (@PathankotPolice) May 21, 2026
These specific devices are highly favored for off-grid spying because their reliance on cellular data and solar energy eliminates the need for traditional electrical wiring, making them incredibly difficult to detect. A similar apparatus was discovered earlier in May perched atop a pole in Kapurthala’s Model Town, which investigators confirmed was part of the same Pakistan-linked network targeting high-value military installations.
According to Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, the operations to dismantle these modules were launched following precise intelligence inputs provided by Military Intelligence units. The subsequent crackdown led to the arrest of three additional suspects from the Ferozepur district: Sukhwinder Singh, Sona, and Sandeep Singh. Law enforcement officials have since recovered the high-tech Chinese cameras from Jalandhar and Kapurthala, alongside multiple mobile phones linked to foreign handlers and a Wi-Fi routing device.
Further investigations revealed the financial and criminal layers of the operation. Kapurthala Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Toora noted that a Pakistani handler known by the alias “Fauji” had transferred Rs 35,000 simply to rent the commercial property where the Model Town camera was mounted.
Additionally, investigators found that the espionage ring intersected with Narco-terrorism; one of the detainees, Sandeep Singh, was actively involved in drug trafficking and had accepted Rs 50,000 from the same Pakistani handler to distribute a kilogram of heroin smuggled across the border via drones.
In response to these threats, law enforcement authorities have tightened security protocols across the region. Two formal First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered in Kapurthala and Amritsar. The accused individuals now face severe legal consequences under stringent charges that include sedition, criminal conspiracy, and multiple violations of the Official Secrets Act, as intelligence agencies continue to probe deeper into the network to identify any remaining security vulnerabilities.
