JKP first in country to launch device
* HM ultra from Udhampur first to be tagged
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 4: In a first, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) has introduced Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker anklet for monitoring of terror accused who are on bail to ensure that they don’t indulge in anti-national and anti-social activities again or try to influence the witnesses.
This rare technology, hitherto, was being used in western countries including United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and the Jammu and Kashmir Police will now be using it to keep strict surveillance on the movement of accused persons who are on bail, parole and house arrest and accordingly de-congest prisons to large extent.
With this, Jammu and Kashmir Police has become first Police Department in the country to introduce GPS tracker anklets.
Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, an activist of Hizbul Mujahideen involved in terror financing, is first terror accused to be tagged with tracker anklet by the SIA after being released on bail by the court in FIR No. 252/2007 under Sections 17, 18, 21, 24, 40 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) at Udhampur Police Station.
“The tracking device can be affixed to the ankle and come with robust tamper-proof features. By defining specific boundaries or perimeters, the device will automatically alert law enforcement agencies if an under trial goes beyond the authorized limits,” the sources said.
The Parliamentary Committee on Home Affairs in its report presented in Parliament in September this year had stated that technology can be explored to produce cost effective bracelet or anklet tracker that can be worn by the prisoners who have procured bail and are out of prison on bail.
It further said that mostly bail is denied on three counts-the under trial prisoner may influence or intimidate the witness, will try to leave the country or commit another crime. However, the bracelet will help on all three counts.
“The GPS tracker anklet is a wearable device affixed around ankle of the person to be monitored and tracks movement of the person,” the sources said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir Police is the pioneering Police Department in the country to provide for affixing of GPS tracker anklets to persons on bail.
Conditions imposed on terror accused while being granted bail by the court included wearing tracking device to be provided by the IGP Jammu today itself and adhering to all conditions imperative for its effective use, not using mobile handset but simple keypad mobile phone without camera and not changing the phone without taking prior permission of the court. He will also furnish IMEI number of the handset to the SHO concerned.
“He will furnish his Cell phone number to SHO concerned on which he can be contacted anytime and will ensure that the number is active all the time and will surrender passport to police and not go beyond the limits of district Srinagar without prior court permission,” the sources said.
Ghulam Mohammad Bhat, who has become first militant to be tagged with GPS tracker anklet, is undergoing trial for being associated with different terrorist organizations and involved in terror financing at the behest of proscribed terrorist organization, Hizbul Mujahideen,.
He was arrested while attempting to transport proceeds of terrorism to the tune of Rs 2.5 lakh at the behest of Hizbul Mujahideen.
Ghulam Mohammad Bhat was also convicted by the NIA Court Patiala House Delhi in another case for being associated with a terrorist organization and for conspiracy behind a terror act.
The Prosecution Department had highlighted importance of close monitoring of terror accused and stringent conditions for grant of bail to him under the UAPA.
“Finding merit in submissions of the prosecution, the Special NIA Court Jammu was pleased to pass an order directing Jammu and Kashmir Police to affix a GPS tracker anklet on the accused,” the sources said.
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