Karnataka Begins Probe After Reports Of Banned Satellite Phone Use In The State’s Coastal Region And Western Ghats

After reports of the use of banned satellite phones in the last ten days, the Karnataka government has initiated a probe into the same.

As reported by Daijiworld, these phones had been ringing in the coastal region and Malnad districts for the last ten days. Intelligence agencies had found that these phones are active in Natekal and Kulari around Mangaluru, Yellapur and Sirsi in Uttara Kannada and the western ghat region between Kadur and Birur in Chikamagalur district.

In this context, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said the state has ordered a probe and that the police officials have shared details with the Intelligence Bureau and will jointly investigate the case.

"Central Intelligence wing has discovered that banned satellite phones are being used in some specific areas of Mangaluru, Uttara Kannada and Chikkamagaluru district, and state intelligence branch staff initiated the investigation to find out the users of banned phones," he said, as quoted by Deccan Herald.

Media reports also noted that though satellite phone usage has been reported in the past, not much has been found about the recievers or the purpose of the calls. In September 2021, Jnanendra had said intelligence agencies had tracked around 476 satellite phone calls from the state since 2020 of which around 220 were made in 2021.

As reported by Business Standard, information about suspected anti-national activities in the coastal and Malnad districts have been gathered by central agencies, who have also told agencies in the state to up the vigil against developments given the rise in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir.