Ghaziabad Police have intensified their crackdown on a Pakistan-linked espionage network, arresting eight more individuals and taking the total number of accused to 22. The case is being described as one of the largest spy modules with alleged connections to Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Among those newly arrested is Naushad Ali alias Lalu, identified by investigators as one of the key masterminds behind the operation. He was apprehended in Faridabad, where he had been working at a petrol pump in Nachauli village, running a puncture repair shop as a cover for the past three months. Originally from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, Naushad is believed to have played a central role in recruiting and managing operatives within the network.
Police said Naushad was responsible for identifying and recruiting young individuals with technical skills such as mobile repair, computer work, and CCTV operations. He was reportedly brought from Kolkata and placed at the petrol pump through contacts linked to other accused, allowing him to operate discreetly while expanding the network.
The latest arrests also include Meera and a minor, further widening the scope of the investigation. These developments build on earlier action taken on March 14, when six individuals, including key operatives Sohail Malik from Meerut and Mahek alias Sane Iram, were arrested. Both were allegedly involved in recruiting members and facilitating financial transactions within the network.
According to investigators, the group targeted economically weaker individuals, luring them with money. Social media platforms were used to identify potential recruits, especially those with technical skills or questionable tendencies but no prior criminal record. Women were deliberately included in the network to reduce suspicion.
The accused are alleged to have collected and shared sensitive information, including photographs and videos of railway stations, defence establishments, and security force movements. These were transmitted through messaging platforms to handlers in Pakistan. Payments reportedly ranged from Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 per photograph, while key operatives earned up to Rs 10,000 per video clip.
Investigators also uncovered a more advanced aspect of the operation involving the covert installation of CCTV cameras at strategic locations such as Delhi Cantonment Railway Station and Sonipat Railway Station. These cameras were allegedly configured to provide live feeds accessible from Pakistan, enabling real-time monitoring of troop movements, military routes, and weapon systems.
Authorities believe the network had plans to install nearly 50 such cameras along a stretch from Delhi to Kashmir, raising serious national security concerns. Several cameras have been recovered and sent for forensic examination, while mobile phones and digital devices seized from the accused are being analysed for further evidence.
The case first came to light after a local beat constable reported suspicious activity, prompting a deeper investigation that uncovered the larger network. Officials indicate that the probe is ongoing and may reveal additional operatives and connections in the coming days.
