A massive probe by multiple intelligence and security agencies has revealed that the SMSes that triggered the exodus from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu of people from the Northeast states had “originated outside the country”. This was confirmed by Union home secretary R.K. Singh as well late Saturday night, a day after this newspaper reported that top intelligence officers had warned that the exodus was the result of an ISI plot.
Mr Singh said 76 websites were identified where morphed images were uploaded on social networking sites and that the majority of these were uploaded from Pakistan. The home secretary revealed that morphed images and photographs of people who had died in cyclones and earthquakes were circulated as victims in Burma on 76 websites. He said all the websites have been blocked and, in addition, 34 more objectionable sites have been identified and these too would be blocked.
“We believe it is highly reprehensible. I think it needs to be made known to everybody that this is something that is being done from Pakistan. The bulk of it has been done from Pakistan. We will raise this issue with Pakistan. I am certain they will refute it but our technical team of experts is certain about the origin,” he added.
Intelligence sources had said earlier that many agencies at the Centre and at the state level were working to identify the exact sources of the hate messages.
Even though the initial probe confirmed that these messages originated outside India, the National Technical Research Organisation was roped in to identify the exact source of these messages. “The role of subversive elements is also being probed. Nothing can be ruled out at this stage,” a senior MHA official remarked.
Home ministry officials said the Centre is keeping a close watch on the developments and is in constant touch with the states. All states have been asked to step up police patrolling in areas with high densities of Northeast people. Even senior police officials have been directed to be on night patrol.
The CBI has announced a cash reward of up to `1 lakh to anyone who could provide credible information which could lead to the identification or arrest of perpetrators of the Assam violence. A special crime unit team is camping in Assam to probe seven cases of violence registered by it.