Asif Iqbal Naik
KISHTWAR
The army intelligence unit in Kishtwar detained two Switzerland nationals, a driver and a guide late Thursday evening from near Thatri area for “unauthorized” use of satellite phone in Padder area of the district.
As per the details available with Kashmir Life, Kishtwar based army intelligence unit few days ago intercepted a satellite phone signals in heights of Padder area of Kishtwar district and raised an alarm keeping in view the nature of “possible threat” from anti-India elements.
The Kishtwar administration had informed the army intelligence unit that neither Kishtwar police nor any other security agency was using the satellite phone in the area nor district administration has accorded sanction to anyone for private use.
After police reply, the army intelligence unit started its investigation which revealed the presence of some foreigners in Padder area who are in the area in connection with some trekking expedition and accordingly started monitoring their activities.
As per sources, while the duo Swiss nationals along with local guide and the driver was on its way to Jammu, the army intelligence personnel intercepted them near Thatri and after preliminary investigation detained all the four persons including the two Switzerland nationals for further questioning.
During the course of search, no satellite phone was recovered from their possession, however, it came to fore that their other accomplish had left Kishtwar in a private chopper.
After the investigation was done, army intelligence unit handed the four detained persons to Kishtwar police who are also investigating the matter and is ascertaining the identity of those persons who had left the Kishtwar in the private chopper.
As per the sources, the detained persons were identified as Digvijay Thakur, Ranjit Jakkle both Indian nationals; Julian Zankar and Stephen Seigrist, the duo is from Switzerland.
The questioning of all the detained persons is underway when the latest reports came in.
