In a major crackdown on an alleged Pakistan-linked espionage network, Ghaziabad police on Tuesday night arrested three more suspects, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 21, officials confirmed.
Among those arrested is Sameer alias “Shooter,” a native of Bhagalpur in Bihar who was residing in Delhi and is believed to be a key member of the network. The other two accused have been identified as Sameer from Shamli district and Shivraj from Shahjahanpur, both currently based in Ghaziabad.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Trans Hindon) Dhawal Jasiwal said that the accused have also been interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). “With these arrests, a total of 21 individuals, including six minors, have been apprehended so far,” he said.
The arrests follow earlier detentions made on Sunday, including Meera Thakur (28) from Mathura and Naushad Ali (20), a resident of Faridabad originally from Muzaffarpur in Bihar. A minor was also among those held.
According to police, Ali had allegedly conducted reconnaissance of security and police installations as well as railway stations across Delhi and other states, and passed on photos and videos to handlers.
Investigators revealed that the espionage ring was allegedly operated from Pakistan by an individual identified as Sardar alias Zoravar Singh. In India, the network was reportedly managed by Suhel Malik alias “Romeo,” a resident of Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh, who is accused of recruiting members and coordinating activities.
Additional Commissioner of Police Raj Karan Nayyar said the operatives were paid around Rs 5,000 per piece of sensitive information. Funds were allegedly routed from Pakistan through intermediaries in Punjab into accounts of money transfer centres and local shopkeepers to avoid suspicion.
Police also disclosed that the group used social media platforms to recruit members. During interrogation, Meera revealed she had come into contact with Suhel via Facebook and later joined the network. She had previously been arrested in 2025 by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell in connection with an arms smuggling case.
Authorities further alleged that the group deliberately recruited less-educated minors to evade suspicion. One detained minor is accused of installing solar-powered CCTV cameras at Delhi Cantonment railway station as part of the operation.
The espionage racket was initially busted on March 13, and investigations remain ongoing as agencies continue to trace the network’s reach and financial links.
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