CCTV on highway, Army movements to Pakistan: Punjab man held for sharing live feed across the border

A man from Punjab’s Pathankot district has been arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistan-based handlers by installing a CCTV camera to monitor the movement of Army and paramilitary forces, police said on Friday.

The accused, identified as Baljit Singh from Chakk Dhariwal village, allegedly installed an internet-based CCTV camera at a shop near a bridge on the Pathankot–Jammu stretch of National Highway-44 in January. Police said the camera was used to monitor sensitive military movement and transmit live footage to handlers in Pakistan.

During interrogation, Baljit Singh allegedly confessed to receiving instructions from an unidentified person based in Dubai and was reportedly paid Rs 40,000 for the operation. The CCTV camera has been recovered from his possession.

Police said the case is linked to a broader pattern of espionage activity involving Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. Last month, Punjab Police busted two alleged ISI-backed espionage modules that used China-made, solar-powered CCTV cameras with 4G connectivity to transmit live feeds of military locations to Pakistan-based handlers.

Earlier in May, another CCTV camera installed atop a pole in Kapurthala’s Model Town was found to be part of an ISI-linked surveillance network targeting sensitive military sites.

According to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, the espionage modules were uncovered following inputs from Military Intelligence units in Punjab. Police arrested three suspects — Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, Sona and Sandeep Singh alias Sonu — all residents of Ferozepur district.

Investigators recovered a China-made solar-powered CCTV camera with 4G connectivity in Jalandhar, while Kapurthala police seized a SIM-based CCTV camera, four mobile phones allegedly linked to foreign handlers and a Wi-Fi device.

“These Chinese cameras are ideal for off-grid surveillance as they operate on 4G connectivity and solar power, avoiding the need for traditional wiring,” Yadav said.

Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora said a Pakistan-based handler identified as “Fauji” had paid Rs 35,000 to rent a shop in Model Town for installing the surveillance camera.

Police also alleged that one of the accused, Sandeep Singh, was involved in drug smuggling and had received Rs 50,000 for distributing one kilogram of heroin allegedly sent through drones by the same Pakistani handler.

Two FIRs have been registered in Kapurthala and Amritsar under charges related to sedition, criminal conspiracy and provisions of the Official Secrets Act.