Karnataka on high alert after intelligence agencies track satellite phone calls
The intelligence agencies have tracked satellite phone calls made to foreign locations from the coastal areas and Malnad region of Karnataka, sources said on Saturday. The state government has been alerted by the agencies since then.
As many as five phone calls have been traced since last week. After the targeted killings by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, central agencies have told Karnataka authorities to be vigilant about the new developments.
These phone calls are being tracked from two locations from Chikkamagaluru district in the state, whereas the other calls are tracked from Mudibidre, Mudipu regions in Dakshina Kannada, in dense forest regions of Uttara Kannada.
The use of satellite phones has been detected by intelligence agencies for a long time.
The use of satellite phones has been tracked for the third time in a year in Karnataka.
Central agencies have gathered information about suspected anti-national activities taking place in coastal districts — Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamaglur, and Shivamogga districts in the Malnad region of Karnataka.
The issue was raised in the assembly and the state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra stated that the government is handling the situation in coordination with central agencies including Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW).
Araga Jnanendra had said on the floor of the House that 476 calls made through satellite phones since 2020 have been tracked to foreign locations.
After the Mumbai attack in 2008, the use of satellite phones has been banned by the Directorate General of Shipping. There were 256 instances of satellite phone usage in 2020 and 220 this year in the state, Aragra Jnanendra said.
Intelligence agencies suspect that the anti-national forces are activating sleeper cells in the state. The phone calls being made despite intelligence agencies being on alert in the state. The agencies are tracking the sources.
[With Inputs from IANS]
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