Punjab Police bust two ISI spy modules using CCTV cameras near army sites
Synopsis
Punjab Police have cracked two ISI-linked spy cells using solar-powered, SIM-based Chinese cameras to livestream Indian army locations to Pakistani handlers — one operative was even doubling as a drug smuggler funded by the same handler.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police busted two ISI-backed espionage modules on 30 April 2025 .
Counter Intelligence Jalandhar arrested Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha of Ferozepur; recovered one Chinese CCTV camera, solar plate, and SIM card.
Kapurthala Police arrested Sona and Sandeep Singh alias Sonu , both of Ferozepur, in a joint operation with a central agency.
Pakistan-based handler Fauji allegedly paid ₹35,000 for camera installation near the Army Cantonment, Kapurthala .
Accused Sandeep Singh was also allegedly involved in drug smuggling, receiving ₹50,000 for distributing 1 kg heroin sent via drones by the same handler.
Cameras operated on 4G SIM and solar power , enabling covert off-grid surveillance of military sites.
Punjab Police on 30 April 2025 dismantled two ISI-backed espionage modules that were using China-made, SIM-based CCTV cameras to transmit live footage of sensitive military installations to Pakistan-based handlers, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said in Chandigarh. The twin busts mark a significant strike against cross-border surveillance networks operating inside Punjab.
How the Modules Operated
According to DGP Yadav, the operatives were strategically placing solar-powered, 4G-enabled CCTV cameras at vantage points near defence establishments. The cameras transmitted live feeds through mobile applications, bypassing the need for conventional wiring or fixed internet connections.
Point of View
Solar-powered Chinese CCTV cameras for military espionage signals a worrying evolution in low-cost, hard-to-detect cross-border surveillance. What makes this case particularly alarming is the convergence of espionage and drug trafficking under a single Pakistani handler — suggesting ISI-linked networks are leveraging the same smuggling infrastructure for both intelligence gathering and narcotics distribution. Punjab's porous border has long been a conduit for drone-dropped contraband; it is now apparently doubling as a live intelligence feed for Pakistani military handlers. The question authorities must answer is how many such cameras remain undetected near sensitive installations across the state.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How were the ISI-backed espionage modules in Punjab busted?
Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence Jalandhar unit arrested one operative and Kapurthala Police, in a joint operation with a central agency, arrested two others. The operations led to the recovery of Chinese CCTV cameras, SIM cards, solar plates, and mobile phones linked to foreign handlers.
What technology did the spies use to surveil military locations?
The operatives used SIM-based, solar-powered CCTV cameras of Chinese make that transmitted live footage via 4G connectivity through mobile applications. This allowed off-grid surveillance without traditional wiring, making detection more difficult.
Who are the accused arrested in the Punjab espionage case?
Three individuals were arrested: Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha of Sahanke village, Ferozepur (Counter Intelligence operation); and Sona of Dona Mattar, Ferozepur, and Sandeep Singh alias Sonu of Chhanga Khurd village, Ferozepur (Kapurthala operation).
What is the link between the espionage case and drug smuggling?
According to Kapurthala SSP Gaurav Toora, accused Sandeep Singh alias Sonu was also involved in drug smuggling. He allegedly received ₹50,000 from the same Pakistan-based handler, identified as Fauji, for distributing 1 kg of heroin that was sent via drones across the border.
How much money did the Pakistani handler pay for the camera installation?
The Pakistan-based handler, identified as Fauji, allegedly paid ₹35,000 to the accused for installing a SIM-based camera near the Army Cantonment in Kapurthala to monitor military movements.
