The Punjab police have arrested the alleged mastermind behind the installation of an unauthorized solar-powered CCTV camera near the high-security military zone in Bathinda. The camera, equipped with a SIM card, had been transmitting footage to handlers in Pakistan and Canada for nearly three months.
Arrest of the Kingpin
Simranjeet Singh, alias Nimbu (22), a crane driver from Sarai village in Amritsar district, was arrested near Batala in Gurdaspur on Tuesday. He is the third person held in the case, following the arrests of his associates Ashok Singh (40), a cook, and Akashdeep Singh (22), an unemployed individual, both from the same village.
Details of the Operation
Bathinda SP (City) Narinder Singh confirmed that Simranjeet was the main suspect. “He had earlier worked in Dubai as a driver and may have come into contact with a foreign-based anti-national element. He is already facing a case under the NDPS Act. Along with his associates, he travelled to Bathinda by bus to install the camera at a location shared by a person abroad,” the SP said.
Ashok provided logistical support, technical data, and the SIM card, while Akashdeep assisted Simranjeet in installing the device. Sources revealed that Simranjeet was paid Rs 13,000 for the job. A local court sent him to two-day police custody.
Discovery and Impact
The solar-powered camera was discovered mounted on an electricity pole near the Bathinda-Sriganganagar road, just a few kilometers from the Bathinda Military Station. The Air Force Station and Bathinda Airport are also nearby. The police believe the camera had been operational for approximately three months, transmitting footage to handlers in Pakistan and Canada.
