In a noteworthy achievement for India’s national security, the Special Cell of Delhi Police has reportedly dismantled an interstate espionage and arms module associated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Officials confirmed the operation which resulted in the arrest of eleven individuals allegedly linked to the module. The accused were said to be operating a covert surveillance network designed to monitor military installations through solar-powered CCTV cameras.

The arrests have also prevented a potential grenade attack targeting security establishments, underscoring the seriousness of their activities. Authorities indicated that these individuals were operating under the direction of handlers based in Pakistan and were organised into two teams engaged in reconnaissance and subversive activities.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the individuals had set up cameras near sensitive military sites across several Indian states, including Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Jammu and Kashmir. Their strategy appeared to involve recruiting unemployed youths with financial incentives.

CCTV Installation Near Sensitive Locations

The arrests uncovered a network that had allegedly installed nine CCTV cameras strategically located near military sites. The operatives reportedly aimed to capture footage and images of key Army and paramilitary installations. This operation was characterised by a calculated division of labour, whereby one group operated independently of the other, ensuring secrecy within the module.

Those arrested include 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. Officials confirmed that they were tasked with recording videos and taking photographs of sensitive installations, as well as setting up solar-powered CCTV systems.

Evidence retrieved from the digital devices of the arrested individuals includes relevant photographs, videos, and location data, which are key to establishing the scale of the module’s activities. This surveillance operation was reportedly sophisticated enough to transmit real-time video feeds to operatives in Pakistan using mobile applications and SIM cards obtained under false identities.

Surveillance Techniques and Recovered Supplies

The design of the CCTV system allowed for continuous monitoring in remote areas lacking direct power sources. The recovery by Delhi Police included four pistols, 24 live cartridges, 24 mobile phones, and nine SIM cards from those arrested, indicating the serious nature of their intentions.

This investigation has so far confirmed that at least nine solar-powered CCTV cameras were installed within areas of tactical significance, particularly regions with heightened military activity. Specific locations targeted included Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Pathankot, Patiala, and Moga in Punjab, as well as Ambala in Haryana, Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and Bikaner and Alwar in Rajasthan.

According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Singh Kushwah, these areas were chosen due to regular troop movements, their proximity to international borders, and the existence of critical Army logistics and cantonments. The funding for this illicit operation was reportedly sourced from arms smuggling activities conducted by the group.

The announcement of these arrests follows the discovery of another similar module in the National Capital Region (NCR), where six individuals were apprehended last month in Ghaziabad. They were accused of establishing a spying network connected to the ISI, which included the installation of cameras to relay live video feeds about military routes and troop deployments.

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