A resident of Punjab's Pathankot district has been arrested on charges of spying for handlers based in Pakistan, police said on Friday. The accused, identified as Baljit Singh, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village, was taken into custody following a preliminary investigation that revealed his alleged involvement in espionage activities.
Details of the Alleged Espionage
According to police, Baljit Singh had installed a CCTV camera at a shop located near a bridge on National Highway-44. The camera was allegedly used to monitor the movement of Army and paramilitary forces in the area. Police further stated that he was transmitting the live feed from this camera to his handlers in Pakistan.
Confession and Evidence
During questioning, the accused confessed that he had installed an internet-based CCTV camera at the shop on the Pathankot–Jammu section of NH-44 in January this year. He also revealed that he was receiving directions from an unidentified person based in Dubai. For his services, Singh had been paid Rs 40,000. The CCTV camera was recovered from his possession, police confirmed.
Previous Espionage Busts
Notably, last month, police had dismantled two ISI-backed espionage modules allegedly operating from Pakistan. These modules used high-tech, China-made solar-powered CCTV cameras to transmit live feeds of sensitive military locations to handlers across the border.
The arrest of Baljit Singh underscores the ongoing efforts by security agencies to counter espionage activities in the region. Investigations are underway to identify other individuals involved in the network and to ascertain the full extent of the threat posed by such operations.
