Punjab man held for spying, installed CCTV camera and shared Army movements with Pakistan

Punjab Police have arrested a resident of Pathankot on charges of allegedly spying for Pakistan-based handlers by installing a CCTV camera near National Highway-44 to monitor Army and paramilitary movement. The accused, identified as Baljit Singh of Chakk Dhariwal village, was taken into custody following an investigation into suspected espionage activities linked to cross-border intelligence networks.

According to police, preliminary investigation revealed that Baljit Singh had installed an internet-based CCTV camera at a shop near a bridge on the Pathankot-Jammu stretch of NH-44 in January. Investigators alleged that the live feed from the camera was being transmitted to handlers based in Pakistan. During questioning, the accused reportedly admitted to installing the device and sharing footage of security force movement.

Police said the accused was also receiving instructions from an unidentified individual based in Dubai. Investigators alleged that Baljit Singh had received Rs 40,000 in connection with the operation. The CCTV camera was recovered from his possession. Officials added that efforts are ongoing to trace three more suspected accomplices, including one local contact and two individuals allegedly operating from abroad.

The arrest comes weeks after Punjab Police busted two alleged ISI-backed espionage modules accused of using solar-powered and 4G-enabled CCTV cameras to monitor sensitive military locations in the state. In one such case, a camera installed in Kapurthala’s Model Town was allegedly transmitting live footage to Pakistan-based handlers through mobile applications. Police had arrested multiple suspects in connection with those investigations.

According to officials, police recovered China-made CCTV equipment, mobile phones and Wi-Fi devices during earlier operations in Jalandhar and Kapurthala. Investigators alleged that the equipment was being used for surveillance of military establishments without conventional wiring infrastructure. Two FIRs have already been registered in separate cases under provisions related to sedition, criminal conspiracy and the Official Secrets Act.