Meghalaya militants using SIM cards of other Northeast states: IG G H P Raju

SHILLONG: Armed militants in Meghalaya are using pre-activated SIM cards originating from other NE states like Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura compounding the problem of kidnapping and extortion, police said today.

"In all the kidnappings and extortions in Garo Hills region, all militants and criminals have used pre-activated SIM cards originating from Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura," Inspector General of Police (Operations) G H P Raju said.

The matter came to light after the police detained a young man who appeared for the post of jail warder yesterday at Tura in West Garo Hills district from whom police seized 60 unauthorised SIM cards, he said.

While a case was registered against the man identified as Blutcher Sangma, police claimed the the SIM cards were meant to be delivered to the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA).

According to Raju, GNLA and other militant groups rely on black SIM cards for their communication to commit crimes such as kidnapping, extortion and criminal intimidation.

These seized SIM cards are being verified to know from which service providers/dealer they belong to and legal action will be initiated against those who violated the DOT guidelines, Raju said.

Meanwhile, state Director General of Police Rajiv Mehta today reviewed the security scenario in the entire Garo Hills region and issued directives to the district police chiefs to prepare 'crime maps' indicating kidnapping and extortion 'hot spots' in each district.

"Special preventive policing steps are being initiated in these crime prone hot spots to deny opportunity for militants and criminals committing kidnappings and extortions," Raju said.

The state police chief has also issued instruction that all private vehicles will be provided security in a convoy system to the destinations.

The review came a week after a constable was dragged out of the vehicle along with another person from Assam by armed militants and their whereabouts are not known till date.