India, March 24 -- In a major crackdown, security agencies have busted a sophisticated espionage network with the arrest of 18 people who allegedly used digital surveillance tools, including solar-powered cameras, to track Army movements and pass information to handlers abroad. The network, uncovered by Uttar Pradesh Police, is suspected to have installed surveillance devices in sensitive cantonment areas, railway stations near military zones and prominent religious sites to gather intelligence and transmit it through encrypted channels such as VoIP.

Investigations revealed that the spy ring was controlled by operatives based in Pakistan and other countries, including Dubai, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Nepal and Canada. Key handlers, i...