Northlines Spl Correspondent
24-year-old truck driver accused of reconnaissance and sharing security-related footage; Dubai-linked payment trail under probe
Kathua, September 20: Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested a 24-year-old truck driver in Kathua in an alleged espionage case involving the use of a SIM-enabled surveillance camera to monitor a road used by security forces.
The accused, identified as Aman, was allegedly drawn into contact with Pakistan-based handlers through social media and subsequently tasked with gathering information about military installations and movement routes in the border belt, according to investigators cited in reports. A case has been registered against him under the Official Secrets Act, and his mobile phone and electronic equipment have been taken for forensic examination.
Camera became key element of investigation
Investigators reportedly found that a CCTV camera had been installed outside the accused’s residence and positioned towards a road near the border. The device used a SIM connection, allowing video to be transmitted without relying on a conventional broadband or Wi-Fi connection.
According to the investigation, Aman was allegedly given Rs 20,000 for purchasing and installing the camera. NDTV reported on Sunday that investigators were also examining a payment allegedly routed through a Dubai-based channel.
Police suspect that footage captured by the device was being shared with handlers across the border. The precise nature and extent of the information allegedly passed on are now part of the continuing investigation.
The case represents a shift in the alleged method of intelligence gathering—from individuals manually collecting photographs or information to the use of commercially available surveillance equipment capable of providing continuous remote access.
Forensic examination underway
The police have seized the accused’s mobile phone and other digital material. Investigators are examining communication records and financial transactions to establish the chain of contacts and determine whether other persons were involved.
Officials are also expected to examine the digital devices and the camera’s data trail to establish when the surveillance arrangement began and what information, if any, was transmitted to foreign handlers.
The investigation is being conducted jointly with intelligence agencies, with authorities looking into the alleged role of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and possible local links.
Digital surveillance raises fresh security concerns
The Kathua case has also drawn attention to the use of inexpensive, remotely connected cameras for surveillance of strategically important roads. A SIM-based camera can operate independently of a property’s fixed internet connection, potentially allowing footage to be accessed remotely.
NDTV reported that the Kathua case is the second alleged ISI-linked honey-trap case to emerge in the Jammu region in about four months. An earlier case involved a young man from the Jammu area who was accused of being lured through social media and subsequently providing security-related photographs. A separate case in Pathankot reportedly involved the installation of a CCTV camera overlooking a road used by military convoys.
Police and security agencies are consequently examining whether the cases are isolated incidents or part of a broader pattern of attempts to recruit local residents for digital surveillance.
For now, investigators are focusing on the forensic evidence, communications and financial trail in the Kathua case. The allegations against the accused will be subject to the ongoing investigation and judicial process.