From US to Odisha: Journey across borders

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is mapping the journey of wireless set from Atlanta in the US to a naxal hideout in Odisha. “It is quite a journey and is turning out very difficult to track,” said an official source.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is mapping the journey of wireless set from Atlanta in the US to a naxal hideout in Odisha.

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“It is quite a journey and is turning out very difficult to track,” said an official source.

In December, 2011, the Border Security Force (BSF) raided a naxal hideout in Koraput of Odisha and recovered some communication gadgets that included a wireless set purportedly manufactured by Motorola. Besides the wireless set, the BSF also found sophisticated arms and ammunition from the hideout.

The recovery, particularly of the wireless set sent the security establishment into a tizzy and NIA was asked to probe the recovery.

“NIA got in touch with Motorola after taking over the probe. The company told the probe agency that the wireless set in question was made for civilian use. The company also said its manufacturing was outsourced to another company and the sets were being sold under the brand of Motorola. Since the wireless sets were for civilian use, the company doesn’t keep record of the end user,” said the source.

During investigation it was also found that the supply of military grade wireless communication equipments is always tracked with end-user certificates to ensure that they always land up with law-enforcement agencies.

“Motorola also said the particular set was part of a lot that was sent to a dealer in Atlanta. Afterwards how it made its journey to the jungles of Odisha is still a mystery that the NIA is trying to unravel,” said the source.