Militant network may take SIM route

A recent routine input received by the security agencies from the Gujarat Police intelligence department raises concern about a sudden spurt in the sale of mobile...

A recent routine input received by the security agencies from the Gujarat Police intelligence department raises concern about a sudden spurt in the sale of mobile phone SIM cards in the border areas. The sale of SIM cards over the past few months has not been proportionate to the increase in the number of cellphone connections.

“A large number of these fixed validity Indian SIMs are being smuggled into Pakistan by Pakistani nationals so that they can be used during their later visits to India,” said a senior state intelligence officer. The department also claims that some of these SIM cards are being used from certain points in Pakistan to communicate with people in India and for that purpose the callers are availing the services of Indian cellular service providers. This, the cops said is possible because of an excellent cellular network in Gujarat which is only getting better by the day with more and more service providers investing in the state.

“Due to improved network, cellphone services have reached even the most remote villages, some of which are located very close to the international border. Therefore, tower signals spill into some places in Pakistan as well,” the officer added.

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Intelligence officials have also listed names of villages, like Koteshwar, Lakhpat, Dayapur, Khavada (just to name a few) on the Indian side of the border, from where the possibility of spillage is highest. “Excellent connectivity and readily available Indian SIMs in Pakistan may soon turn out to be a useful means of communication between ISI agents in Pakistan and their sleeper agents here,” the officer added.

Worried about the finding, G S Gill, Additional Director General (West) of BSF, said: “Trans-border cellular communication is an issue of concern. We have already brought this to the notice of the Union Home Ministry.” However, the threat is relatively less in Gujarat because of a wide Rann that acts as a natural barrier, he said.