‘Bangladeshi mobile networks a threat to national security’

SHILLONG: Signals emitting from Bangladeshi cellular companies is a major threat to national security but despite the threat, the mobile signal is available all along the Indo-Bangla border in Meghalaya, the BSF said on Sunday.
BSF DIG (Shillong Sector) Risal Singh while speaking to media persons in Ranikor admitted that   miscreants do use Bangladeshi mobile signals along the Indian side for kidnapping purposes.
Stating that Grameen phone, a Bangladeshi mobile company’s signal, is easily available on the Indian side of the border, the BSF official said anti-national activities of miscreants become much more easy due to availability of Bangladeshi mobile networks.
He lamented that BSF does not have any mechanism to intercept or cut the signal of Bangladeshi mobile networks. He also was unhappy that none of the Indian mobile service providers had any presence in the border areas.
Poor cellular connectivity in several parts of the State, especially areas close to the international borders, continues to create inconvenience to the residents of such areas. Adding to the woes of the people is the alleged indifference of private telecommunication companies who refuse to venture into such areas.
Alarmingly, the poor cellular connectivity has reportedly forced some local border residents to use Bangladeshi SIM cards. The users, however, are reluctant to admit to the same.
It is also a fact that Bangladeshi SIM cards are available in Ranikor and others areas close to the borders since their signal is very strong.
Restricting the cellular connectivity provided by Bangladeshi companies in and around the international border will help in reducing the crime rate in the border areas as the communication lines of the criminals would be severed, the BSF official said.
Meanwhile, the BSF official also asserted that the terrain in the border areas of Meghalaya is difficult in the absence of proper border fencing all along the border, but added that BSF is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the borders are well guarded.