20 phone numbers under lens for terror links: Manohar Parrikar

PANAJI: The Goa government is tapping 20 mobile and landline numbers of people, who are suspected to have terror links, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.

Parrikar told the Legislative Assembly that the state government is tapping 20 mobile/ landline phones since March 2012 till date.

"All the tappings are related with crime. Most of these cases are related with terrorism, where there is clear suspicion of having terror links," the Chief Minister told the House, while responding to a question tabled by Congress legislator Jeniffer Monserratte.

The Opposition benches during the Question Hour said they suspected that their mobile phones were being tapped by the government.

However, Parrikar denied it saying "None of the politicians are in the list."

The state-level review committee headed by Chief Secretary decides the surveillance or tapping of the mobiles or landline numbers, he said.

"A DGP-level officer can sanction such tapping up to seven days, provided he takes post-facto approval from the committee," he explained.

Responding to questions by legislators - Vijay Sardesai and Vishwajit Rane - on if any private agency was tapping the phones, Parrikar said, "If I come across that any private agency is doing it without government's permission, I will surely take action."