An elaborate security lapse has been uncovered near Asia’s largest military station in Bathinda, Punjab, with the discovery of an unauthorized CCTV camera suspected of transmitting surveillance footage to individuals based in Pakistan and Canada. The operation has led to the arrest of two individuals from Amritsar district and has initiated a significant counter-intelligence investigation.
Surveillance Network Uncovered
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the covert surveillance operation, allegedly orchestrated by anti-national elements operating from Pakistan and Canada, targeted the movement of security personnel in the vicinity of Bathinda’s highly sensitive military zone. The camera, powered by solar energy and equipped with a SIM card, was affixed to an electricity pole near a cement factory along the Bathinda-Sriganganagar Road. It is believed to have been operational for approximately three months, raising serious concerns about the efficacy of existing security and intelligence protocols.
Bathinda hosts the largest military station in Asia and serves as the headquarters for the Indian Army’s X Corps, a critical strategic installation located just a few kilometres from where the surveillance device was discovered. Additionally, the Air Force Station and Bathinda Airport are also situated in close proximity to the site of the security breach, underscoring the potential gravity of the compromised information.
Investigation and Arrests
The unauthorized camera was reportedly detected by the Thermal police recently while a team was investigating a road accident. Following this discovery, a case was registered at the Thermal police station under the Official Secrets Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. Joint teams comprising personnel from the Bathinda police, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) staff, and Counter Intelligence units have been deployed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Bathinda Superintendent of Police (City), Narinder Singh, stated that preliminary investigations revealed the camera was relaying footage of police and security force movements to individuals associated with anti-national elements in Pakistan and Canada. He further elaborated that through meticulous analysis of CCTV footage, technical evidence, and human intelligence inputs, the suspects were identified. The two individuals arrested have been identified as Ashok Singh, 40, a cook, and Akashdeep Singh, 22, who is unemployed. Both are residents of Sarai village in the Amritsar district.
Suspect Roles and Ongoing Efforts
Sources indicate that Ashok Singh allegedly provided logistical support, technical data, and the SIM card for the camera, while Akashdeep Singh, with the assistance of an accomplice, was responsible for the installation of the device at the designated location. The SP described the case as serious and unprecedented for the Bathinda region, emphasizing that continuous raids are being conducted to apprehend other individuals suspected of involvement.
Authorities are currently verifying whether additional cameras were installed by the arrested individuals in other locations. Previous search operations conducted around the military area had not yielded any suspicious findings. The investigation is ongoing, with a focus on identifying the full extent of the surveillance operation and its potential beneficiaries.
The Chenab Times News Desk