A covert surveillance operation allegedly conducted by anti-national elements based in Pakistan and Canada and targeting the movement of security personnel has been uncovered near Bathinda’s high-security military zone, leading to the arrest of two residents of Amritsar district and triggering a counter-intelligence investigation.Bathinda has the largest military station in Asia and the headquarters of the Indian Army’s X Corps, which is just a few km away from the site. Further, the Air Force Station and Bathinda Airport are also located a few km from the spot where the camera was found.The unauthorised solar-powered CCTV camera fitted with a SIM card on an electricity pole near a cement factory on the Bathinda-Sriganganagar Road had reportedly been functional for the past about three months and transmitting information. This has raised questions about the functioning of security and intelligence agencies.Bathinda SP (City) Narinder Singh said that during the investigation, the police learned that the camera feed of the movement of the police and security forces was being sent to anti-national elements in Pakistan and Canada. “Our teams analysed the CCTV footage, technical evidence and human intelligence inputs to identify the suspects. Two persons have been arrested — 40-year-old Ashok Singh, a cook, and 22-year-old Akashdeep Singh, who is unemployed. Both are residents of Sarai village in Amritsar district.” Sources said the camera was detected by the Thermal police recently when a team was investigating a road accident.A case in this regard was registered at the Thermal police station under the Official Secrets Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.Joint teams of the Bathinda police, CIA staff and Counter-Intelligence units have launched an investigation.The SP claimed that this was the first such case in Bathinda and that it was serious in nature. “Efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining accused through continuous raids. We cannot reveal their identities,” he said, adding that Ashok had provided logistical support, technical data and the SIM card and Akashdeep, along with an accomplice, had installed the camera at the site.The SP added, “Those arrested had visited some other places as well. We are verifying whether more cameras were installed by them. In the past, we conducted search operations around the military area and nothing suspicious was found.”