Thiruvananthapuram: Terming as "alarming"
the incidents of international telephone calls made by
prisoners from state jails, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen
Chandy on Friday said the state would seek the help of a Central
investigating agency, if necessary, to probe them.
As many as 120 mobile phones were seized from prisoners
during a recent raid conducted in jails and some of them were
found to have been used to make calls to foreign countries,
Chandy said in the assembly on Friday.
He was replying to an adjournment motion moved by the
CPI-M led LDF Opposition, which alleged that the international
calls had terrorist links.
A preliminary examination by state cyber-cell officials
on 30 recovered phones had revealed that a total of 3,000
calls were made and in some of them calls were made to foreign
countries using satellite and other new technology, Chandy
said.
The calls examined were made during the last one year,
he added.
The raids were conducted after jailed former state
minister and Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai
was found to have violated prison rules and used a mobile
phone in jail.
"There is no need for the help of National Investigation
Agency considering the evidences now available. But, if
required the assistance of a Central investigation agency
would be sought," Chandy said.
Examination of calls made from the remaining 90 mobile
phones was yet to be made, he said.
Quoting a report given by the Additional Director General
of Police (Prison) Alexander Jacob, Chandy said the report had
recommended a probe into the issue by NIA or any other Central
investigative agency.
PTI
