Ludhiana Police, in coordination with the Counter-Intelligence wing, have arrested Rashpal Singh, a resident of Sarafkot in Gurdaspur’s Fatehgarh Churian area, in connection with a Pakistan-linked espionage case.
According to police, Singh was arrested on August 27 following a tip-off. He had rented a shop in New Sunder Nagar on the Ludhiana-Ferozepur National Highway and installed CCTV cameras outside the premises.
Police said the cameras were positioned towards the Ludhiana-Ferozepur Road, and that Pakistan-based handlers allegedly had live access to the CCTV feed through mobile applications.
CCTV cameras used to monitor movement
According to investigators, Singh shared the user ID and passwords of the CCTV system with his handlers in Pakistan.
A police officer said the cameras provided live access to the road outside the shop. The location is around six kilometres from Baddowal Cantonment, and police are investigating whether the CCTV feed was used to monitor the movement of military vehicles.
Police have also that the Pakistan-based handlers used different mobile numbers to issue threats.
The investigation is also examining allegations that Singh shared confidential information concerning national security and defence agencies with his handlers.
Police recover CCTV equipment
During the operation, police recovered:
Two CCTV cameras
A Wi-Fi router
A power adapter
A memory card
The recovered equipment is being examined as part of the investigation.
Police allege Singh received Rs 3 lakh
According to an investigating officer quoted in the source material, Singh received around Rs 3 lakh in different instalments in cash over two months.
Police also alleged that he was being paid Rs 40,000 per month as rent for the shop.
Investigators have identified the person through whom Singh came into contact with the Pakistan-based handlers and are probing that link.
Police also suspect that cross-border drug smugglers may have been used to deliver payments, although the investigation into the alleged financial network is continuing.
Case registered under Official Secrets Act
A case has been registered at Sarabha Nagar Police Station under Sections 3, 4, 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, along with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to criminal conspiracy.
Singh was produced before a court and sent to six days of police remand.
Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said an in-depth interrogation was underway to establish the extent of the sensitive information transmitted.
Police investigate banned Chinese CCTV cameras
The investigation has also brought attention to the use of internet-connected Chinese CCTV cameras.
According to a police officer quoted in the report, the government has banned the sale of certain internet-based Chinese cameras over security concerns. The officer said such cameras can potentially be accessed remotely through their applications when login credentials are shared.
Police also alleged that banned Chinese cameras were being sold in Ludhiana after being smuggled from Delhi.
Similar cases reported in Punjab
The Ludhiana case comes after other espionage cases involving CCTV cameras in Punjab.
In May, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village in Pathankot was arrested for spying for Pakistan. Police said he had installed a Chinese CCTV camera at a shop on the Pathankot-Jammu section of NH-44 and provided access to Pakistan-based handlers.
Days earlier, a camera mounted on a pole was found in Model Town, Kapurthala. Three suspects were arrested in connection with that case.
Two arrested in Muktsar espionage case
On March 23, Muktsar district police said they had arrested two people in a spying network.
The arrested accused were identified as Akashdeep Singh alias Mintu, from Mahabaddar village, and Balraj Singh, from Chibbranwali village. Police said their alleged network was in contact with Pakistan-based agents and was passing on secret information.
Their accomplice, Pritpal Singh, had already been arrested in another case.
Investigation continues
The Ludhiana investigation is continuing, with police questioning Singh about his handlers, the CCTV system, payments received and the information shared with Pakistan.
Investigators are also examining the recovered electronic equipment and the intermediary who connected Singh with the Pakistan-based handlers.
