In a major blow to organised crime and trans-border espionage networks, the Punjab Police have busted two separate ISI-backed espionage modules that were using high-tech equipment to transmit sensitive information to Pakistan. Three operatives involved in the modules have been arrested.Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said on Thursday that the modules were using high-tech, Chinese-made CCTV cameras to transmit live feeds of sensitive military locations to Pakistan-based handlers. While one module was busted by Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar, another was dismantled by Kapurthala police in a joint operation with a central agency.All three accused arrested in the operations hail from Ferozepur. Police said an accused arrested by Kapurthala police had been monitoring activities for the past month through a camera installed 200 metres from the cantonment at Kanjli. Hailing from the border area, the accused contacted Pakistani handlers through previous drug smuggling networks and was later assigned espionage tasks by them for money.Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar, has arrested Sukhwinder Singh alias Sukha, a resident of Sahanke village in Ferozepur. The Kapurthala police have arrested two men: Sona, a resident of Dona Mattar in Ferozepur, and Sandeep Singh alias Sonu, a resident of Chhanga Khurd village in Ferozepur.The DGP said the modules were strategically installing SIM-based and solar-powered CCTV cameras at various locations to monitor sensitive sites, including defence establishments, and transmitting live footage to Pakistan-based handlers through mobile applications. “These Chinese cameras are ideal for off-grid surveillance as they operate via 4G connectivity and solar power, bypassing the need for traditional wiring,” he said.The DGP said that from the module busted by Counter Intelligence, Jalandhar, police seized a Chinese-made CCTV camera along with a USB-connected solar panel with 4G connectivity. Meanwhile, the Kapurthala police seized four mobile phones linked to foreign handlers from two operatives, including Sandeep, along with a SIM-based CCTV camera and a WiFi set.AIG, Counter Intelligence Jalandhar, Simratpal Singh Dhindsa said that following Sukhwinder Singh’s arrest, police seized one CCTV camera along with a solar panel and a SIM card.SSP Kapurthala Gaurav Toora said that based on secret information about surveillance near the Army cantonment, a shop in Model Town, Kapurthala, was raided. The arrested accused had rented the shop to install a SIM-based camera on a nearby pole to monitor military movements.“The investigation has also revealed that a Pakistan-based handler, identified as ‘Fauji’, provided Rs 35,000 to the accused for the camera installation,” the SSP said. He added that the accused, Sandeep Singh, was also involved in an undetected drug smuggling operation, having received Rs 50,000 for distributing 1 kg of heroin sent via drones by the same Pakistani handler.Two separate cases — under Sections 152 and 61 of the BNS; Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act at the City Kapurthala police station, and under Section 152 of the BNS; Sections 3, 4, 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act at the State Special Operation Cell, Amritsar — have been registered.