Kerala Prisoners Using High-Tech Phones To Mastermind Global Terror Operations

By P. Vijian CHENNAI, India, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Prisoners in Kerala are suspected to be using high-tech mobile phones to 'call the shots' to mastermind international terror networks. Suspecting such a link, the police in the south Indian state have launched a major probe after seizing 120 mobile phones, including satellite phones, in several raids last month. The seizure has revealed that prison inmates made about 3,000 outgoing calls locally and overseas. As a result, police investigators fear the prisoners could have possibly been in touch with terror operators in India or abroad. Anti-terror experts have revealed the seized modern satellite phones could be used to detonate bombs. "There were several computer-generated numbers and we don't know who was on the receiving end. "Calls could have been made to Sri Lanka, Pakistan or Bangladesh because at that time, these nationals were also in Kerala prisons. "We don't have the facility to trace these calls and our central agency will carry out the investigations," Alexander Jacob, Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) told Bernama on Sunday. Officials are clueless as to whether the alleged calls were linked to 'hawal' transactions (illegal money transfer), terrorist groups or criminal activities. "The fresh revelations lead to the suspicion that terrorist outfits have even spread their tentacles to the jails," said a recent report prepared by Jacob's department. Based on the findings, Kerala police have now sought the help of India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) to probe if prisoners lodged in the states' jails were linked to global terror outfits. Over 35,000 inmates in nearly 50 jails across Kerala are now under the scanner, following the report. Anti-terror experts revealed the seized modern satellite phones could be used to detonate bombs and calls were hard to track, reported local media. Prison officials were alerted after a jailed local politician was recently caught using a mobile phone. -- BERNAMA Malaysia