SIA carries out searches in Kashmir over misuse of SIM cards

SRINAGAR: In a major crackdown against the misuse of SIM cards by militants and their fraudulent sale by telecom vendors, the Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday carried out searches at 19 premises across the Valley, the officials said.

“The searches came in the face of the ever-increasing misuse of SIM cards by terrorists their over-ground workers (OGWS), narcotics smugglers and other criminals,” they said.

The SIA in 11 different FIR cases carried out searches at 19 premises spread all over Kashmir, the officials said.

A majority of the premises belonged to the Point of Sale (POS) vendors who sold these SIM cards in violation of the Department of Telecom regulations and in a manner that amounts to forgery and cheating, the officials said.