Chandigarh, May 25 (IANS) To curb the menace of issuing SIM cards on fake identities, a major security threat, the Punjab Police have got blocked over 1.8 lakh SIM cards activated using fake identities and forged documents, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Thursday.
In one case 500 SIM cards have been issued with the same photograph but in different names by forging documents.
The Internal Security Wing in association with the Department of Telecom had begun a crackdown against distributors and agents selling SIM cards on fake identities.
Yadav said: "Action is being initiated against point of sales distributors, agents and other persons involved in issuing SIM cards on fake IDs."
The police have arrested 17 people, who were found involved in the sale of SIM cards on fake documents, besides registering 52 FIRs in the last three days.
Special DGP (Internal Security) R.N. Dhoke said that he had held multiple meetings with the Department of Telecom and telecom service providers. Subsequent to that action was taken.
He said Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence) Rakesh Agrawal has been made the nodal officer and a drive is on to further identify the SIM cards issued on fake IDs.
The special DGP also warned retailers of strict action for failing to comply with the Know Your Customer (KYC) norms, a lapse that resulted in the activation of thousands of SIM cards fraudulently.
"Special teams of the Counter Intelligence Wing have been coordinating with the district police to zero in on SIM card retailers, who activated different mobile phone numbers with the same proof of identity," he said, adding that they are also taking up the matter with the telecom authorities to blacklist such agents.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the national capital would get 100 electric vehicle charging stations in two months. The Chief Minister inaugurated 11 high-tech low-cost electric charging stations to promote the adoption of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the state.
Since Saturday, the Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police personnel have seized foreign cigarettes valued at Rs 2.72 crore, drugs valued at Rs 34.18 crore and rescued 140 exotic animals and arrested four persons in this connection.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police has arrested a swindler who cheated people to the tune of Rs 8 crore in lieu of making business associates in an 'air cargo company'. The accused has been identified as Balakrishnan Shivram Iyer, a resident of Puri Emerald Apartment, a luxury residential society in Gurugram.
Television actress Vaishali Takkar, who died by suicide at her residence in Indore on Sunday, was about to marry a US-based software engineering in December. She had also made elaborate plans for the wedding shopping and hosting a party after the Diwali. However, Vaishali took the extreme step on Sunday after she was reportedly harassed by her neighbour, who is currently on the loose.
Addressing the media at his residence on Monday evening after nine hours of interrogation by the CBI at its headquarters here in connection with the case, Sisodia said, "During questioning, I understood that this is not a case about excise policy or corruption. The case is only aimed at making 'Operation Lotus' a success in Delhi."
A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and B.V. Nagarathna said it will hear the matter on November 7. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Mishra, submitted that notice was already issued in the matter.
