In a significant achievement for India’s national security, Delhi Police’s Special Cell has dismantled an alleged interstate network involved in espionage, terrorism, and arms dealings directly connected to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), officials revealed on Friday. An undercover surveillance system comprising multiple solar-powered CCTV cameras was discovered during the operation. This network was also linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), a terrorist group based in Pakistan.
A total of 11 individuals have been apprehended for their purported roles in the ISI-supported network. Authorities stated that these arrests foiled a potential grenade attack on security installations. The suspects, operating under instructions from their handlers in Pakistan, were divided into two teams assigned to reconnaissance and subversive activities.
The accused allegedly positioned nine CCTV cameras near military sites in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. Officials disclosed that the group enticed unemployed youths with monetary incentives to recruit them. The network’s operational structure ensured compartmentalization, with one group unaware of the other’s activities. Law enforcement conducted raids in Punjab and Rajasthan, leading to the arrests of the individuals identified as Manpreet Singh, Anmol, Sahil, Atul Rathee, Rohit, Ajay, Gurjeet Singh, Rimpledeep Singh, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, Salwinder Singh alias Kalu, and Boota Singh.
“These individuals were tasked with capturing sensitive Army and paramilitary installations through videos and photographs. They were also directed to install solar-powered CCTV cameras near these locations,” officials elaborated. Data including photos, videos, and geolocation information was recovered from the suspects’ digital devices.
The CCTV footage was streamed in real-time to ISI operatives in Pakistan through mobile applications and SIM cards obtained using fake identities. The use of solar-powered cameras facilitated continuous monitoring even in areas lacking direct power sources. The seized items from the suspects included four pistols, 24 live rounds, 24 mobile phones, and nine SIM cards, as reported by Delhi Police.
Investigations unveiled that the accused had installed solar-powered SIMs in CCTV cameras at strategic sites frequented by Army and paramilitary forces. These locations encompassed Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Patiala, and Moga in Punjab; Ambala in Haryana; Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir; and Bikaner and Alwar in Rajasthan, noted Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah.
The sensitivity of these locations was attributed to factors such as regular troop movements, proximity to international borders, and the presence of vital Army installations and logistical routes. Profits from arms trafficking conducted by the suspects were channeled into supporting the network’s activities. These arrests followed the recent discovery of a similar module in the National Capital Region.
Earlier, in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, six individuals were detained for their alleged involvement in a spying network with ISI connections. They were accused of installing CCTV cameras to relay live video feeds related to army movements, troop positions, and weaponry.
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