Tura, Nov. 10: Meghalaya director-general of police Rajiv Mehta today directed the superintendents of police in theGaro hills to prepare "crime maps" indicating hotspots in each district that are prone to kidnapping and extortion by militants.

Mehta held a meeting with the superintendents of police of all five Garo hills districts here today. The deputy inspector-general western range, F.D. Sangma, was also present.

"Special preventive steps are being initiated in crime-prone hotspots to end abductions and extortion by militants and criminals," said G.H.P. Raju, inspector-general of police (operations).

He said private vehicles would be provided escorts in all vulnerable routes along national highways and state highways across the Garo hills.

"People are being urged to cooperate with the police in this exercise," Raju added.

He added that the DGP had directed the police to ensure escorts for all civilian vehicles.

Militants have unleashed terror along several routes of Garo hills. The Tura-Dalu-Baghmara road is one of the most vulnerable routes, where over 20 abductions have taken place this year alone.

In today's meeting, the SPs presented reports on the counter-insurgency operations being carried out across the region.

The DGP was also briefed about the forces available in each district of Garo hills. "The effective use and deployment of forces was discussed," Raju added.

The meeting also dwelt on the issue of "black SIM cards", being used by militants and criminals for extortion calls.

"In all the abductions and extortion cases in Garo hills, all militants and criminals have used pre-activated SIM cards originating in Nagaland, Manipur and Tripura," he said.

An unidentified person was apprehended during frisking yesterday at the 2nd Meghalaya battalion unit at Goeragre for possessing 60 unauthorised SIM cards.

On interrogation, he revealed that the cards were meant for Garo National Liberation Army cadres.