Punjab Police bust ISI spy ring live-streaming Army movements to Pakistan
Synopsis
Punjab's Counter-Intelligence unit has cracked open a live-streaming spy network — Chinese-made CCTV cameras, solar-powered and 4G-connected, were feeding real-time Army movement footage to ISI handlers across the border. The ISI–China equipment link is the most alarming detail: this wasn't improvised surveillance, it was structured, cross-border intelligence infrastructure.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police Counter-Intelligence, Jalandhar busted an ISI-backed spy ring on 30 April 2025 .
Key operative Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha from Ferozepur was arrested.
Solar-powered, 4G-connected CCTV cameras of Chinese manufacture were recovered from Kapurthala .
Live footage of sensitive military sites was being streamed to Pakistan -based handlers via mobile applications.
An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
Investigation is ongoing to identify other members and trace cross-border linkages.
Punjab Police's Counter-Intelligence unit in Jalandhar on 30 April busted an ISI-backed espionage ring that had installed solar-powered CCTV cameras near sensitive military installations along the border, transmitting live footage to Pakistan-based handlers through mobile applications. Authorities arrested one key operative and recovered Chinese-manufactured surveillance equipment from multiple locations.
How the Spy Ring Operated
According to Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, the accused — identified as Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha from Ferozepur — along with associates, installed solar-powered CCTV cameras equipped with 4G connectivity at multiple strategic locations. The cameras were configured to allow real-time remote access, enabling Pakistan-based handlers to monitor Army movements live via mobile applications.
Investigators recovered the CCTV cameras, solar panels, and SIM cards used in the operation. Notably, all seized equipment was of Chinese manufacture, pointing to what authorities describe as an ISI–China nexus in the espionage module.
Equipment Seized and Arrests Made
The China-made solar-powered CCTV equipment with 4G connectivity was recovered from Kapurthala, according to DGP Yadav. An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Amritsar, under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigations are ongoing to trace both forward and backward linkages and identify other members of the module.
DGP Yadav stated:
Point of View
Solar-powered CCTV equipment in an ISI-directed operation is not incidental — it points to a structured supply chain that merits scrutiny beyond Punjab's borders. India has long flagged the dual-use risk of Chinese surveillance hardware, and this case gives that concern operational teeth. The broader question is how many such installations may exist undetected along a border that stretches hundreds of kilometres. Punjab Police's swift action is commendable, but the ISI–China equipment nexus demands a coordinated national-level audit of border-adjacent surveillance infrastructure, not just a state-level FIR.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Punjab Police's Counter-Intelligence unit uncover in Jalandhar?
Punjab Police's Counter-Intelligence unit in Jalandhar busted an ISI-backed spy ring that had installed Chinese-made, solar-powered CCTV cameras near sensitive military sites to live-stream Army movements to Pakistan-based handlers. One operative, Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha from Ferozepur, was arrested.
Who is Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha?
Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha is a resident of Ferozepur, Punjab, identified as a key operative of the espionage module. He was arrested by Counter-Intelligence Jalandhar for allegedly installing surveillance cameras to monitor Army establishments and transmitting footage to Pakistan.
What equipment was recovered in the spy ring bust?
Authorities recovered Chinese-manufactured solar-powered CCTV cameras with 4G connectivity, solar panels, and SIM cards. The equipment was seized from Kapurthala and was configured to allow real-time remote access by handlers in Pakistan via mobile applications.
What is the ISI–China nexus referred to in this case?
The ISI–China nexus refers to the fact that the surveillance equipment used in the Pakistan-directed espionage operation was entirely of Chinese manufacture. Investigators say this points to a structured cross-border supply chain enabling the ISI to deploy advanced surveillance infrastructure inside India.
What legal action has been taken?
An FIR has been registered at the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) in Amritsar under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Interrogations are ongoing to identify other members of the module and trace the network's full cross-border linkages.
