On March 22, 2026, the ongoing crackdown on a massive cross-border espionage network achieved a major victory. The Ghaziabad Police arrest Naushad Ali, taking the total number of arrests in this shocking ISI-linked spy ring to 14. Along with the mastermind Naushad, police also arrested a woman named Meera and detained a minor. Consequently, this operation has exposed a terrifying plan by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to strictly monitor the movement of Indian armed forces.
The Mastermind’s Recruitment Tactics
Naushad Ali, who originally hails from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, was not just a low-level foot soldier. According to investigators, he acted as a primary mastermind and recruiter for the ISI handlers. His specific job was to find and trap young Indian men through various social media platforms. Furthermore, he deliberately targeted individuals who had technical skills, such as mobile repairing and CCTV installation, but were facing severe financial crises. He specifically looked for youths with criminal tendencies but no actual police record. The ISI handlers paid these recruits anywhere between ₹5,000 and ₹15,000 per task. To avoid leaving a direct financial trail, the money was sent via UPI for the completed espionage tasks.
Solar-Powered Cameras and Live Feeds
The most terrifying aspect of this espionage racket is their modern technology. The arrested spies were planting disguised, solar-powered CCTV cameras at highly sensitive military and transit locations. Specifically, they successfully installed these SIM-enabled hidden cameras at the Delhi Cantonment and Sonipat railway stations. Using this technology, they transmitted live video feeds, photographs, and precise coordinates of Indian Army troop movements directly to their handlers in Pakistan. Moreover, investigations revealed that the ISI network had advanced plans to secretly install around 50 such cameras from Delhi to Kashmir to gather sensitive military information.
The Role of Women and Arms Trafficking
To actively avoid raising any suspicion, the ISI handlers directed Naushad to include women in the espionage ring. This strategy directly led to the arrest of Meera. Her primary role within this spy module involved illegal arms trafficking and supplying weapons to the network. Interestingly, Meera is a known criminal who was previously arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell in 2025 under the Arms Act. By using women and minors, the spy ring managed to stay under the radar while carrying out their anti-national activities for a long time.
The Fight Back and Legal Action
This massive low-budget, technical spy module is a textbook example of how the ISI operates today. However, Indian security agencies have successfully crushed their operation. Following the Ghaziabad Police arrest Naushad Ali, the accused are facing strict legal consequences. The police have registered cases for criminal conspiracy and acts endangering the sovereignty of India. Most importantly, the investigation involves a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and central intelligence agencies to track down the remaining absconding suspects. Ultimately, this successful operation has thwarted a catastrophic breach of India’s national defense infrastructure.
