Satellite phone calls that had agencies on alert

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 2

Much before the terrorists struck at the Pathankot Air Force Station today, security agencies picked up signals of calls from a satellite phone near IAF stations in Punjab-Halwara, Adampur and Pathankot- and one at New Delhi.

One of those calls was made near Pathankot. Another was made near an Air Force base in New Delhi and a nationwide alert sounded.

Five such calls were intercepted after the July 27 Dinanagar attack, one of them on December 26 between Adampur and Hoshiarpur. Agencies suspect the terrorists may have 'called' local handlers to seek information on the Adampur Air Force Station.

The first such call from the 'banned' Thuraya satellite phone was intercepted at Karnana village of Nawanshahr in August last year, a few days after the attack on the Dinanagar police station.

Later, the central intelligence agencies had repeatedly intercepted the banned satellite phone near strategic air force stations in Halwara Adampur, and Pathankot.

A nationwide alert was sounded when the agencies reported to have intercepted a “suspected” terrorist movement, besides a satellite phone use near a “highly strategically important place of national security” in Delhi recently.

Sources said the role of the Babbar Khalsa could not be ruled out. Jagtar Singh Tara, arrested in a joint operation by the Punjab Police and the Royal Thai police in January last year, too had claimed during interrogation that the Lashkar-e Taoiba was planning to revive sleeper cells in Punjab.

It was also revealed during his investigation that Tara had told that the LeT had offered to send both ‘hardware’ as well as fidayeen attackers from across the border.

Security at Adampur airbase up 

Jalandhar: Security at the Adampur Air Force Station, 23 km from here, has been increased following terrorist attack at the Pathankot Air Force station. The Jalandhar rural police too cordoned off the surroundings of the air base. Special nakas have been put up on the state and national highways in the district.

Politicians denied entry to IAF station 

Pathankot: A number of politicians reached the town to condemn the act of terror. Former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar was among the first to reach here. State Deputy Speaker Dinesh Babbu and Pathankot BJP MLA Ashwani Kumar too arrived at the main gate of the air force station. None of the leaders was, however, not allowed to go inside.

Cops have tough time controlling crowd

Pathankot: A large crowd was present at the gates of the IAF base. The police had a torrid time controlling the surging crowd. Security at vital places in the town has increased. Nakas have put up on the Pathankot-Jammu and the Pathankot-Gurdaspur highways. Police personnel from other districts were requisitioned. 

Five calls traced post-Dinanagar

• Five satellite phone calls have been intercepted since the July 27 Dinanagar terror attack in Gurdaspur. A recent interception was made on December 26 between Adampur and Hoshiarpur
• The banned Thuraya satellite phone call was intercepted at Karnana village in Nawanshahr in August last year, a few days after a group of terrorists attacked the Dinanagar police station
• Later, the central intelligence agencies repeatedly intercepted the satellite phone calls near strategic air force stations in Halwara, Adampur and Pathankot