s CCTV Camera Recording on NH-44
New Delhi: A seemingly ordinary CCTV camera installed along National Highway-44 in Punjab has become the focus of a major espionage investigation after police alleged it was being used to monitor Indian Army and paramilitary movement near the Pathankot-Jammu corridor.
Punjab Police arrested Baljit Singh, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village in Pathankot district, accusing him of sharing sensitive footage with handlers believed to be linked to Pakistan. Investigators claim the internet-enabled surveillance camera was strategically positioned near a bridge frequently used by military convoys travelling towards Jammu and Kashmir.
According to investigators, the device was capable of remotely streaming live footage, allowing overseas handlers to track convoy movement in real time. Officials suspect the setup was intentionally placed along the route because of its strategic military importance.
Police said Singh allegedly installed the camera earlier this year and later shared access to the feed with foreign-based contacts. During questioning, he reportedly admitted to operating the surveillance setup under instructions received through a Dubai-based intermediary.
Authorities also claimed that Singh received nearly Rs 40,000 from an unidentified contact linked to the operation.
Investigators believe the case reflects a growing trend in which commercially available digital devices are being used for intelligence gathering. Security agencies have repeatedly warned about the misuse of Wi-Fi cameras, drones and mobile applications for surveillance activities targeting sensitive locations.
Police recovered the CCTV equipment and are now analysing communication records, financial transactions and possible connections to a wider espionage network operating in border states.
Officials have not disclosed the exact intelligence inputs that triggered the investigation, but confirmed that the probe is ongoing. Authorities are now attempting to identify overseas contacts and determine whether others were involved in installing or operating the system.
Pathankot remains a highly sensitive military zone because of its proximity to both the Pakistan border and Jammu and Kashmir, keeping the region under constant security watch.
