The Karnataka state government has got information about the use of banned satellite phones for making international calls. The state Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said on Tuesday that the state police department was in touch with the central intelligence agencies, such as Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)., over satellite phone calls from the state to various foreign countries.

Responding to a question raised by former minister and Congress MLA U.T. Khader, on the issue of usage of banned satellite phones in the state, the minister said that after the Mumbai attacks in 2011 the use of satellite phones has been banned in sea waters by the Director-General of Shipping in 2012.

Their usage has been banned generally in the country. However, despite the ban, as many as 250 satellite phone calls were tracked in 2020 and 220 satellite phone calls were tracked in 2021 till date in various parts of the state. The government has taken serious note of the development and was keeping a close watch on this, he said. The satellite phone calls were traced to Pakistan and other countries from the dense forest areas of Dakshina Kannada, Chikmagalur and Yadgir districts recently.

Follow the talisman of Mahatma Gandhi to reduce inequality

IT department raids Bengal, revealed undisclosed income of Rs 700 crore

New airport terminal at Ladakh to become functional by Dec 2022: Aviation minister