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LUCKNOW: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained a man from Mathura, identified as Vishal Singh in West Delhi on charges of supplying drones and providing technical training to cadres of the banned CPI (Maoist) over the past seven years. The surveillance devices were reportedly used to monitor security forces in forested zones across Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha.
Surveillance Gear in Remote Jungle Camps
During interrogation, Singh allegedly admitted that he delivered drones specifically to leadership in the Chhakarbanda–Pachrukhiya area of Bihar and personally trained Naxal operatives to deploy them effectively within dense jungle terrain. He also attended secret meetings with central committee members in these forested zones as early as 2019.
Despite maintaining an apparently legitimate livelihood in Delhi, NIA officials say, Singh followed developments in UAV technology and adapted commercial drones to meet the operational needs of insurgents operating deep within India’s “Red Corridor.” His role is now being viewed as a catalyst in the CPI (Maoist)’s efforts to revive its Northern Regional Bureau (NRB), encompassing states such as Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
NIA Probes the Extent of the Network
Digital Evidence and Wider Connections
Search operations at Singh’s West Delhi residence uncovered hard drives, mobile phones and pen drives containing incriminating communications and pilot data, raising concerns that an organised urban network supported the Maoists’ operations. The NIA is currently combing through this material to map the extent and structure of the network.
Historical Context of Recent Arrests
In August 2024, the agency had apprehended Ajay Singhal alias Aman, responsible for organising Maoist activity in Haryana and Punjab as part of the Northern Bureau resurgence. These successive arrests reflect heightened counter‑terrorism operations aimed at disrupting the regrouping attempts by the banned outfit.
Implications for Security Policy
The revelation of drone‑based reconnaissance support directly to Maoist elements marks a worrying escalation in non‑state actors’ use of accessible technology. Traditionally, government forces have deployed UAVs from the NTRO and IAF for aerial surveillance, but these resources often fall short in jungles used by insurgents. The arrest of Singh exposes a reverse‑engineering gap exploited by the Maoists, enabling them to monitor troops, plan ambushes, and refine tactical operations.
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Next Steps:
Investigators aim to determine whether other operatives in Singh’s urban support network are involved in similar acts of technology transfer. Meanwhile, the NIA’s ongoing raids may lead to further arrests or seizures of drone parts and digital infrastructure.
About the Author – Sahhil Taware is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.
