A man from Punjab’s Pathankot district has been arrested on allegations of spying for Pakistan after investigators uncovered a surveillance setup allegedly used to monitor Indian Army movement along National Highway-44. According to Punjab Police, the accused allegedly installed internet-based CCTV cameras near a strategic stretch of the Pathankot-Jammu highway and transmitted live footage of Army and paramilitary convoys to handlers based across the border.

Officials identified the accused as Baljit Singh, also known as Bittu, a resident of Chakk Dhariwal village in Pathankot district. Preliminary investigations suggest the cameras were placed near a bridge along NH-44, an important route frequently used by defence forces moving toward Jammu and Kashmir. Police sources said the surveillance system included a WiFi-enabled CCTV camera that could reportedly be accessed remotely. During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted that the device was installed earlier this year and that he received instructions from contacts operating outside India, including an unidentified individual based in Dubai. Investigators claim he was paid around Rs 40,000 for the operation.

An FIR has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Official Secrets Act. Authorities have also recovered electronic equipment believed to have been used in the operation. The case has raised serious security concerns because Pathankot is considered a highly sensitive defence zone due to its proximity to the India-Pakistan border and the presence of key military installations. Security agencies are now investigating whether the accused was part of a larger espionage network linked to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI.

Officials are also examining possible links between the spying operation and cross-border smuggling activities. Raids are reportedly underway to identify additional suspects and uncover the full extent of the alleged network. The arrest comes amid growing concerns over the misuse of modern surveillance technology for espionage activities. In recent months, several cases involving hidden cameras and remote monitoring systems near military areas have been uncovered by security agencies in Punjab and neighbouring regions.