SHILLONG: Taking due note of the submission made by police in connection with use of illegal SIM cards by militants and gangs to commit various crimes in Garo Hills and acting on the suggestion of IGP (Law and Order) G.H.P. Raju, the High Court of Meghalaya has issued an order that henceforth all mobile service providers – Aircel, Airtel, BSNL, Idea, Reliance & Vodafone – shall furnish information forthwith to the nearest police station if any SIM activated by them is located to be operational in any part of the five districts of Garo Hills region. Earlier, R. Deb Nath, CGC, for the Union of India, placed before the court a letter from J.P.N. Singh, Director (NE.I), of Ministry of Home Affairs, on the recent suggestion of the High Court asking the Centre to consider imposing AFSPA in Garo Hills. The letter said the matter was considered and discussed at the highest level and a Committee was being formed to review the security situation in Garo Hills of Meghalaya and to consider additional deployment of CAPFs and also to review the security situation along with international border with Bangladesh in Meghalaya. The letter requested that prayer may be made before the High Court of Meghalaya to grant at least 6 weeks’ time to file an affidavit in the matter by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In addition, Deb Nath also prayed for time to file additional affidavit with further specific details before the next date of hearing. He also clarified that the Central government has not taken any decision towards the last order of this Court as yet, but The Shillong Times and other dailies have published the news items without any basis. Advocate General, K.S. Kynjing, appearing for the State submitted a sealed envelope containing information about the police operation in the Garo Hills. However, the IGP (Law and Order) G.H.P. Raju, who was also present in the Court, was not in a position to tell about the results of their operation although the spate of incidents of kidnappings is said to have continued as usual. Raju also informed that one of the major problems being faced by the security forces in operation in the Garo Hills comes from the use of SIM which are registered and activated in different parts of North Eastern region other than Garo Hills.
According to Raju, unless use of illegal SIM is controlled, it would be very difficult to track the insurgents and outfits using the SIM activated outside Meghalaya for criminal activities including kidnapping and killing in Garo Hills, and suggested that all the mobile service providers, namely, Aircel, Airtel, BSNL, Idea, Reliance & Vodafone be directed to inform the nearest Police Station immediately in respect of their SIM if found to be used and operational in any part of all five districts of Garo Hills. Incidentally, the Court expressed dissatisfaction with the affidavits filed by the State government stating that they contained vague and evasive statements. The Court directed the State government to file additional affidavits giving the details of security forces deployed in Garo Hills region and the result achieved. The matter will be again heard on November 26.
