Chandigarh (TIP): A resident of Punjab’s Pathankot was arrested on charges of spying for Pakistan-based handlers, police said on Thursday, May 21.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Baljit Singh, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village, had installed a CCTV camera at a shop located near a bridge on the National Highway-44 to allegedly keep an eye on the movement of the army and paramilitary forces, police said, adding that he was transmitting the live feed to Pakistan-based handlers.
During questioning, the accused confessed that he had installed an internet-based CCTV camera at a shop on the NH-44 Pathankot-Jammu Highway in January.
He was also getting directions from an unidentified person in Dubai. He was given Rs 40,000, police claimed.
Police recovered the CCTV camera from his possession, they said.
Last month, police had busted two ISI-backed espionage modules using high-tech, China-made solar-powered CCTV cameras to transmit live feeds of sensitive military locations to Pakistan-based handlers.
Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the camera was installed in January this year to monitor the movement of security forces.
During questioning, Baljit allegedly confessed that he had been acting under instructions received through an unknown individual based in Dubai. In return, he was reportedly paid Rs 40,000 for the operation.
Officials recovered the CCTV camera and related equipment from his possession.
Investigators suspect the live surveillance feed was being used to track sensitive troop and convoy movement along the crucial highway corridor connecting Punjab with Jammu & Kashmir.
Link to earlier ISI spy modules
The arrest comes barely weeks after Punjab Police claimed to have busted two Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence-backed espionage modules that allegedly used China-made solar-powered CCTV cameras to transmit real-time visuals of military installations and movement to handlers across the border.
Security agencies have increased surveillance across border districts amid concerns over the use of commercially available internet-enabled devices for espionage activities.
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