Hawala funds, Rs 5k jobs, covert filming: Inside WhatsApp-led spy network busted in Ghaziabad; ‘Shooter’ among 3 more held

GHAZIABAD: A Bihar man who built a ragtag group of young recruits to film sensitive locations and share videos, photographs and GPS coordinates with handlers in Pakistan was among three persons arrested on Tuesday. So far, 21 people have been taken into custody in connection with the spying racket, which is believed to have spread its tentacles across the country over the past few years.The three arrested on Tuesday were Sameer alias Shooter (20), originally from Bhagalpur in Bihar but now living in Delhi's Chandni Chowk; another man named Sameer (22), from Shamli; and Shivraj (18), from Shahjahanpur and currently living in Bhowapur in Kaushambi.According to police, Shooter was one of the key recruiters in the network, hiring youths from humble backgrounds for as little as Rs 5,000 to carry out reconnaissance of railway stations, offices of security agencies and govt departments. He allegedly came in contact with gang members Naushad and Sohail Malik after posting photographs and videos with weapons on social media in 2023-24. He was then added to multiple WhatsApp groups and assigned the task of filming sensitive locations.Dhawal Jaiswal, DCP (city), said Shooter was tasked with surveying security force bases, railway stations and other important establishments across the country, and sending information related to them to foreign numbers. "He downloaded an app from Play Store to capture and transmit material, and was trained online to use it. He also lured several boys into the gang with money and got them to carry out reconnaissance. In the last year alone, he added more than 12 youths to the group," he added.Shooter, sources said, was identifying military and Air Force areas and sharing details with a Pakistani number recently. He is also suspected to have travelled to Rajasthan and Assam several times over the past six months. It was his interrogation that led cops to the other Sameer and Shivraj.Police described Sameer as another key organiser in the network. According to cops, he came in contact with Naushad on Instagram towards the end of 2024 and was later added to a WhatsApp group in which Meera, arrested earlier, was already present. Shivraj, who worked as a CCTV technician, allegedly joined the network through Sohail. "On Sohail's instructions, he installed a CCTV camera in Sonipat, and the footage was routed elsewhere. He was paid Rs 50,000," the DCP said.Police had earlier identified Naushad Ali, Shooter and Sohail as key operatives. Along with Mehak and Meera, both arrested earlier, they were allegedly in direct touch with Sardar Jora, the Pakistan-based handler on whose instructions recruitments were being carried out.The money trail is also under scanner. Police said Ganesh, a Nepal resident arrested earlier, told them Sardar Jora sent funds to Nepal through hawala. The money was then routed through casinos, businessmen and mobile channels, with intermediaries taking a 20% cut before the rest was transferred to accounts in India or handed to operatives in cash.