'Pakistan spy': Who is this Punjab man accused of installing CCTV on highway only to send Indian army movement footage to enemy?

A man from Punjab’s Pathankot district has been arrested on allegations of spying for Pakistan-based handlers after police uncovered a covert surveillance setup reportedly used to monitor Indian Army and paramilitary movement along National Highway-44.

The accused, identified as Baljit Singh alias Bittu from Chakk Dhariwal village, allegedly installed an internet-enabled CCTV camera at a roadside shop near a bridge on the Pathankot–Jammu stretch of NH-44. Investigators claim the live footage was being transmitted to handlers operating from Pakistan and abroad.

Punjab Police said the operation came to light following intelligence inputs about suspicious activity near the strategically important highway corridor.

CCTV camera allegedly used to monitor military movement

According to senior police officer Daljinder Singh Dhillon, Baljit Singh admitted during interrogation that he had installed the camera in January this year near Sujanpur in Pathankot district.


Police allege the surveillance system was specifically positioned to capture the movement of Army convoys and paramilitary personnel travelling along the highway route connecting Punjab and Jammu.

Officials said the accused was receiving instructions from an unidentified contact based in Dubai and had allegedly been paid Rs 40,000 for carrying out the operation.

A CCTV camera and an internet WiFi router were recovered during the investigation.

Four accused named in Pathankot espionage case

The Sujanpur police have registered a case against four individuals in connection with the suspected espionage network.

Those named in the FIR include:

• Baljit Singh alias Bittu
• Vikramjit Singh alias Vikka
• Balwinder Singh alias Vicky
• Taranpreet Singh alias Tannu

Police said the accused were allegedly involved in anti-national and criminal activities linked to cross-border espionage operations.

Raids are currently underway to arrest the remaining suspects.

Investigators probing cross-border links and foreign funding

Punjab Police have informed senior security agencies and launched a wider probe into the network’s international connections.

Investigators are now attempting to trace:

• The Pakistan-based handlers involved
• The Dubai-based contact directing operations
• The funding channels used to support the surveillance activities
• Possible links to larger espionage networks operating in border districts

Officials believe the case may form part of a broader pattern of technology-assisted spying targeting sensitive military locations in Punjab.

Punjab Police recently busted ISI-backed spy modules

The latest arrest comes weeks after Punjab Police dismantled two alleged espionage modules believed to be backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Authorities said the networks were using China-made solar-powered CCTV cameras equipped with 4G SIM connectivity to secretly monitor defence installations and transmit footage to Pakistan-based handlers.

One operation was carried out by the Counter Intelligence Wing in Jalandhar, where police arrested Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha from Ferozepur district. Officers recovered a CCTV camera, a solar charging unit and a SIM card from his possession.

In a separate joint operation involving Kapurthala Police and a central agency, two more suspects, identified as Sona and Sandeep Singh alias Sonu — were arrested.

Police recovered:

• Four mobile phones allegedly linked to foreign handlers
• A SIM-based CCTV camera
• A WiFi communication setup
• Chinese solar-powered cameras used for covert surveillance

Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the accused had strategically installed SIM-based and solar-powered CCTV cameras near sensitive defence locations.

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

Investigators believe such systems allow operatives to conduct long-term covert surveillance without attracting attention.

Drug smuggling angle also under investigation

Police have also uncovered a possible narco-terror link in the Kapurthala module.

According to Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora, accused Sandeep Singh allegedly received Rs 50,000 for distributing one kilogram of heroin that had reportedly been delivered via drone from across the border.


Authorities suspect the same Pakistan-based handler, identified only as “Fauji”, financed both surveillance and smuggling operations.

Security agencies on high alert in Punjab border districts

The latest espionage case has heightened concerns among security agencies over the increasing use of advanced surveillance technology in border states.

Officials are now monitoring vulnerable stretches near military routes, cantonments and strategic infrastructure across Punjab to prevent further infiltration attempts and covert intelligence gathering operations.

Inputs from agencies