Chandigarh, August 5
Following the revelation that use of SIM cards of Pakistani cellular operators was part of the modus operandi of international drug smugglers, the Punjab police has demanded from the union government that mobile signal jammers be installed all along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab.

A team investigating drug smuggling cases in Punjab has found that Pakistani SIM cards were being used by India-based drug traffickers to contact their suppliers in Pakistan. The same has been informed to various investigating agencies and also the Government of India.

The neighbouring country has set up mobile phone towers near the border areas with India and the signals penetrate at least up to 8-10 km inside the Indian territory.

The Punjab police team investigating drug smuggling cases found during questioning that Pakistani SIM cards were carried by smugglers on the Indian side. These cards were used primarily to call up people across the border and also to coordinate the movement of men and drugs with accuracy. The use of a Pakistani SIM card means the user has no link with exchanges of Indian cell operators; hence no call records exist and no conversation can be recorded to keep tabs on the movement.

The height of mobile towers along the international border should be restricted to curb the misuse of technology, said an official.

With cellphones in hand, men on either side of the sensitive border route the drugs through Punjab. Since the fencing was electrified, the modus operandi was to throw the consignment over the fence, said officials in the Punjab police. The source of the drugs was of course Afghanistan.

Earlier, similar complaints had originated from Jammu where Pakistani cell signals were being received when the BSNL was allowed to start its service. Jammers had to be installed there.