Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar,(DD)The Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) on Thursday filed a chargesheet against a terrorist associate — a telecom vendor operating under an Airtel franchise — for fraudulently issuing a SIM card that was later used by an active terrorist.
A police spokesperson stated that Police Station CIK has produced the chargesheet before the Hon’ble Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Kulgam against Mudasir Ahmad Sheikh, son of Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Hanand Chawalgam, Kulgam, in connection with FIR No. 18/2020, registered under Sections 420, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code.
According to police, credible intelligence revealed that terrorists and members of proscribed organisations, including Over Ground Workers (OGWs), were procuring SIM card connections from various telecom service providers as part of a pre-planned criminal conspiracy. This operation often involved the active complicity of their sympathisers, including certain franchisees or Point of Sale (POS) vendors, using fraudulent and dishonest means.
The case was formally registered on 9 October 2020 under FIR No. 18/2020, invoking Sections 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act along with IPC Sections 420, 468, 471, and 120-B at Police Station CIK, Srinagar.
During the investigation, it was found that the accused, a vendor for Airtel Telecom Services, operated a shop under the name “MICRO WORLD” in Kulgam. He was found to have forged and manipulated an authentic electoral identity card to issue a SIM card in the name of a non-existent individual. Furthermore, the Customer Application Form (CAF) contained fabricated and incomplete details with the intent of passing the SIM card to a terrorist.
Investigators confirmed that the subscriber listed in the CAF did not exist in reality, and the SIM card had, in fact, been handed over to a terrorist.
The police have appealed to the public, particularly the youth, to remain vigilant and follow official advisories. Citizens are urged to ensure their identity documents are not misused for illegal SIM card procurement and are strongly advised not to share their SIM cards with anyone, regardless of familiarity or trust.(DD)