Cellular operators in the dock
Seizure of mobile phones from terrorists
S.P.Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 25
The seizure of mobile phones and SIM cards from Pakistan-backed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir has put the cellular operators here in the dock. This has also put a question mark on the functioning of the cellular operators who were generally bypassing the security aspects while issuing SIM cards in this terrorism-ridden state.
The seizure of mobile sets with SIM cards of a prominent private cellular company from inmates of a high-security terrorist jail here is a new phenomenon.
Security force personnel point out that with the reach of cellular phones even in the far-flung areas, terrorists prefer to use this mode of communication with their cadres rather than the traditional wireless sets that, at times, get intercepted by the Army and the police.
While the BSNL, which is the leading player in mobile telephony in J&K, was taking extra precaution of verification by a gazetted officer of each applicant for a SIM card, two private operators, Airtel and Aircel, were reportedly issuing connections on the basis of proof of residence and photo identity of the applicant. Mr R.K.Koul, General Manager of the BSNL, said that every precaution was being taken while issuing SIM cards.
A police official pointed out that most of the SIM cards seized from terrorists were of the private operators. The two mobile phones seized from the jail inmates had Airtel SIM cards and were reportedly being used for maintaining constant touch with terrorists operating outside.
Mobile phones activated with SIM cards of the BSNL were sometime ago seized from terrorists operating in Doda district. The police was also investigating the matter of SIM cards having been issued to applicants who had mentioned fake residential address on the forms.
It is worth mentioning that the security agencies had allowed the mobile companies to start operations in J&K about three years ago after a lot of effort by the state government. The Reliance was expected to start its operations here within the next two months.
However, the initial fear of security agencies that the facility might be misused by terrorists has started coming true. With more than 12 lakh SIM cards activated here, it is not possible for the security agencies to keep a tab on every individual user.
An over ground worker of terrorists, Javd Sofi, who was recently arrested in Doda, told the police that he collected 18 SIM cards from one Mohammad Ashraf in Bhaderwah and passed these on to Shabir, district commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba outfit, in a hideout at Sazan. He also supplied 20 mobile handsets to the terrorist leader.
He also disclosed that he had supplied a large quantity of mobile recharge coupons to terrorists at different places in the district.
Most of the terrorists shot by security forces in various parts of the state were found to be carrying mobile phones.
While the Centre has not allowed the domestic cellular companies to install their towers near the Indo-Pakistan border to prevent misuse of mobile phones by anti-national elements, the signals of four Pakistan-based mobile operators were being received clear in the heart of the city here. The security forces do not rule out the possibility of the Indian SIM cards being smuggled to Pakistan, where these could be used for maintaining a contact with the sources of the ISI operating here.
The signals of the cellular operators based in the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) was being received in the sensitive border towns of Mendhar and Poonch.
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