The Hindu : Pre-paid SIM cards put paid to police efforts

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 24, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Pre-paid SIM cards put paid to police efforts

By V.S. Palaniappan

Coimbatore May 23. Alarmed at reports of militants and rowdy-sheeters running their unlawful operations using pre-paid SIM cards extensively, the police are seeking regulation of the sale of the facility.

Using the cards, the militants and those who assist them are able to escape notice, the intelligence wings have pointed out.

Anyone can avail himself of a SIM card, walking into any shop, as no documents are required to be produced. But for post-paid cards, the subscriber will have to fill up an application and enclose photographs and residence proof.

It will be easy to trace the user of a mobile phone by tracking down the number from which the calls originated. But in the case of the pre-paid card, even if the number is found, the police cannot trace the user in the absence of details of the person who bought it. The card comes in handy for those who do not want to disclose their identity.

The police say operators insist on documents only for post-paid SIM cards to ensure payment of bills. Without thinking only about easy marketing, they should introduce minimum procedures for sale of pre-paid cards as well, as that move would help in keeping track of the users, the police said.

Besides militants, even rowdy-sheeters were found using pre-paid SIM cards to exchange information on their operations and also in arbitration (''katta panchayat''). ``After laborious efforts, when we track down the phone numbers, we find they are pre-paid SIM cards. Our probe runs into a dead-end'', a senior police officer said.

Sleuths of the City Intelligence Unit, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), the Special Branch CID, the Special Branch and the Communal Intelligence Unit are keeping a close watch on persons who have links with religious and communal outfits and those who are on bail or have been acquitted in communal cases. To evade the monitoring agencies, the police feel, the militants and other unlawful elements are going in for more pre-paid cards since they can easily change the numbers often.

Normally, the intelligence keeps a tab on the militants, intercepting communication that comes in the form of mail or phone messages. This has helped in unearthing their plans. Close on the heels of two recent murders here, which led to a communal frenzy, the police stepped up shadowing of suspected activists.

But with the discovery of ``Truth Voice'', a secret wing of the proscribed Al-Umma, and its involvement in one of the murders, the police have concluded that it is time the sale of pre-paid cards was regulated. In a number of cases, the investigating agencies have across instances of pre-paid cards being used by the unlawful elements.

The city police have decided to write to both cellular operators and those who are likely to enter the field shortly, asking them to regulate the marketing of pre-paid cards by asking the buyer to fill up an application form which would call for basic details.

They should insist on an address proof before giving the SIM card.

The police have also planned to write to the Government, asking that it issue a Statewide direction for regulating the sale of pre-paid SIM cards.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Veeranam viability haunting again

Campaigning marked by charges, counter-charges

Centre keen on Sethu project execution: Minister

Pre-paid SIM cards put paid to police efforts

Three-tier panels to monitor noon meal scheme

Drive against plastics intensified in Yercaud

`Outsourcing will add to Dalit deprivation'

Alternative careers abound for students

Task force to prepare farm products profiles

MoU for Indo-Sri Lanka ferry service