GUWAHATI: Assam Police busted a fake SIM card racket with links to Pakistan and arrested seven persons – three from Rajasthan, two from Assam and one each from Telangana and Delhi.
During the investigation, the police found that WhatsApp accounts were created by using fraudulent SIM cards with OTPs for activation routed to Pakistan. The SIM cards were used for cybercrimes and anti-India activities.
Tipped off by military intelligence about a racket involving fake SIM cards operating with bases in Assam, Rajasthan and Telangana, Assam Police registered a case with the Special Task Force and launched an operation codenamed “Operation GHOST SIM.”
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Assam’s Director General of Police, Harmeet Singh said a simultaneous operation was planned in two districts of Assam, one district of Telangana, and two districts of Rajasthan. He said a team was sent to Rajasthan and Telangana while dedicated action teams were formed for Assam’s Dhubri and Morigaon districts.
The operations led to the arrest of seven persons. They were identified as Saddik (47) of Bela of Bharatpur district, Rajasthan; Arif Khan (20) of Sahori Alwar, Rajasthan; Sajid (21) of Sahodi Ka Bar, Sahori, Alwar, Rajasthan; Akeek (25) of Rojki of Bharatpur district, Rajasthan (arrested from Guwahati airport); Arsad Khan (34) of Pendka of Bharatpur, Rajasthan (arrested from New Delhi airport); Mofijul Islam (19) of Bilasipara in Dhubri district, Assam (arrested from Gollapally in Sangareddy district of Telangana) and Jakariya Ahmad (24) of Bilasipara in Dhubri district of Assam.
The DGP said 14 others were picked up from different places of Dhubri, and necessary lawful action would be taken after proper interrogation.
Altogether, 948 fake SIM cards were also seized. The police advised people against responding to unknown WhatsApp calls.