Punjab man held for spying after installing highway CCTVs, sharing Army movement with Pakistan

A man from Punjab’s Pathankot has been arrested for allegedly installing CCTV cameras along National Highway-44 to monitor Army and paramilitary movement and relay the live footage to Pakistan-based handlers, in a case police say posed a serious threat to national security.

The accused, identified as Baljit Singh alias Bitu, a resident of Chak Dhariwal village in Pathankot district, was arrested recently by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) wing of Pathankot Police following a tip-off.

Investigators alleged that Baljit Singh, along with his associates, installed CCTV cameras at a shop located between bridge numbers 4 and 5 in Sujanpur on the strategically crucial Punjab-Jammu highway. The cameras were reportedly positioned to track the movement of security forces travelling along the NH-44 corridor connecting Punjab to Jammu.

According to police, the live surveillance feed and related inputs were electronically transmitted to Pakistan-based handlers and other anti-national elements operating abroad.

Pathankot Senior Superintendent of Police Daljinder Singh Dhillon said the accused was engaged in espionage activities for Pakistan and had been passing on sensitive information related to Army and paramilitary movement in the Sujanpur sector.

Police claimed the accused was allegedly carrying out the activity to finance his drug addiction.

During the investigation, police said the names of three more associates have surfaced, with further disclosures expected as the probe widens.

An FIR has been registered under Sections 61, 111, 113(3) and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Official Secrets Act.

While only Baljit Singh has been arrested so far, police said efforts are underway to trace the larger network and determine the role of the remaining suspects.