According to technical details with Indian agencies the two satellite phones used by the suspected terrorists, on the Pakistani boat that went up in flames off the Gujarat coast on January 1, continued to be active till January 6.
The two numbers had been under NTRO's (National Technical Research Organization) watch for months before it alerted the Coast Guard about a possible mid-sea transaction. According to sources, the phones were used to get in touch with a mobile number in Thailand during most of this period.
At least one more Indian agency other than NTRO had also been monitoring the two numbers. NTRO suspected throughout those months of monitoring that the two numbers were part of a smuggling racket. It alerted the Coast Guard on December 31 morning about their possible movement in seas near international maritime boundary of India, because the indication was that they were planning a major transaction.
On the morning of December 30, the two numbers were about 8km apart in the Arabian Sea. By the evening of the same day, the two Thuraya satellite phone numbers had reached the same location.
Around the same time, the boat that probably came from near Sri Lanka moved the 'cargo' to the boat that came from Pakistan.
According to details available from technical monitoring, the two satellite phone numbers then drifted apart. In the months running up to the operation, the numbers were probably also in touch with a number in UAE.
Raising several questions, the two Thuraya phones continued to be operational as late as January 6, three days after one of of the boats went up in flames as the Coast Guard closed in on it.
The NTRO is also seeking in help in tracking down individuals in Pakistan, Thailand n UAE for the operation.
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