Sat phone signals fuel terror scare, alert on border areas

Jaisalmer: After security and intelligence agencies tapped signals from a satellite phone in Jaisalmer area, suspected earlier to be used in Pakistan's Karachi between July 3 and 11, there's a major alert on the Indo-Pak border over possible terrorist attacks on army bases and other sensitive areas.
Security has been tightened at Jaisalmer, Nal in Bikaner, Uttarlai in Barmer, air force station at Gangangar, Suratgarh and at other army areas.
According to reliable sources, signals from a satellite phone, which had the same IMEI number as the one used in an army area in Karachi, was tapped from Satto area of Jaisalmer at Punjran Ka Tala between July 14 and 16.
Sources said that the use of same IMEI number has raised doubts that ISI was planning some terror attack at Barmer and Jaisalmer. Apart from this, there is also suspicion that some smuggler from Pak area may have entered the Indian area. But no evidence was found to support this.
Sources said that the satellite phone used in the Pathankot terror attack was also found to be used in Pakistan, raising doubts of possible conspiracy being planned by Pakistan.
Over the past few days, the use of satellite phones illegally has risen in Jaisalmer, Barmer and Ganganagar areas, worrying intelligence and security agencies.
But information from the latest satellite phone tap was received by security agencies after 24-48 hours, resulting in the failure to catch the user or getting information.
Ganganagar SP Rahul Kotaki said that after senior officers received information on the use of satellite phone a few days ago from Ganganagar area, security was tightened at Suratgarh and other sensitive areas. It was further strengthened as a preventive measure. Jaisalmer SP Saurav Yadav also confirmed tapping satellite phone signals was tapped from Pokhran and Myazlar area of Jaisalmer between July 14 and 16. An investigation is going on in this regard.
Though there has been an increased use of satellite phones in border districts for some time, information is received late helping culprits to get away. Earlier, satellite phones of Thuraya company have been caught many times from the Jaisalmer area, but security agencies failed to provide information on time to agencies in Jaisalmer.
The border district police have apprised the DGP about this problem and requested him to raise this issue with concerned authorities.