The hate SMSes and MMSes that originated in wake of ethnic clashes in Assam and triggered panic among residents of the northeast across the country in August this year were “orchestrated by operatives of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) who were supported by the ISI’s Joint Technical Division (JIT).’’
These are the findings of intelligence agencies who had been tasked to investigate the origin and the conspiracy behind these hate SMSes. The intelligence agencies have already submitted a comprehensive probe report to the Union home ministry details of which have been accessed by this newspaper.
The JIT Division of the ISI handles all aspects related to technology like cyber space, mobile phones and even explosives as well as use of chemicals. The report states that the JIT is known to be training members of terror groups in use of cyber and cell phone technology to make them tech savvy in spreading terror against India. Highly-placed intelligence sources said the JIT took enough precaution to ensure that they were not identified as the final source of this mischief.
Importantly, intelligence agencies have also raised serious doubts that the ISI-backed elements operating out of Bangladesh could well be behind the initial ethnic violence in Assam. While cautioning the government the intelligence note goes on to add that if the recent trends are any indication to go by the ISI has been extremely successful in using the social networking platforms and sites as well as mobile phones in spreading panic among people in Indian. “And this is a cause for concern for which we must start enhancing our technological capacity,’’ it states.