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| Don’t give life-time prepaid Sims in J-K: DoT | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | May 6
Though Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has asked telecom operators in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East not to issue pre-paid SIM cards which have lifetime validity, in view of the alleged misuse by militants, Telecom `giant' Bharti Airtel has come up with an alternative for its over ten lakh customers in state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Well informed sources in the telecom circles revealed that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) authorities were taking serious note of recently launched Rs 299 plan for its pre-paid customers in view of the recent guidelines issued by the DoT.
The telecommunication department has recently issued strict guidelines to the telecom operators in militancy hit states of Jammu and Kashmir and North East asking the operators not to issue recharge coupons with over three months' validity.
However, sources said that the Airtel has come up with a new scheme for its customers, which automatically recharges the SIM card after deducting Re 1 from the customer's account. Under the new plan the customer has to recharge his SIM card with Rs 299 recharge-coupon.
"The plan give Rs 10 talk time to the customer, with three months validity", sources in the Airtel said. They said that after three months the company will automatically deduct Re 1 from the customer account and validate the SIM for another one month.
"Only thing a customer will have to ensure that he has at least Re 1 balance in the account so that the SIM will be recharged after every month", sources said adding this has come as a boost for the customers who were earlier opting for life-time validity.
Sources in the BSNL said that the matter was being discussed at the department level so that it can be taken up with the telecommunication department. "We have been asked not to issue any lifetime prepaid SIMs and recharge coupons with more than three months validity," sources said adding "If Airtel has been permitted to go ahead with this particular plan, why should BSNL not be allowed".
Bharti Telecom has already come under scanner for not complying d with the advisory of the security agencies to issue new SIM cards to customers only after proper verification of the documents.
Both the telecom operators have been asked to issue SIM Cards— both pre-paid and post-paid — only after the subscriber complies with all the required formalities: furnishing details about himself, a recent photograph and proof of residence.
Sources, preferring anonymity, said that BSNL is also likely to approach Vigilance Telecom Monitoring Committee (VTM) of government of India, which is already interpreting the Rs 299 plan of Airtel.
Though the plan has not been formally launched by the Airtel, neither it has highlighted the plan on its official website the booking counters have been asked to go ahead with the plan.
"We have recently came to know about the new plan of Airtel and we are trying to ascertained the actual facts so that the matter can be discussed at the ministry level", another official in BSNL said.
Bharti Airtel had, last year, deactivated nearly 10,000 mobile connections in Jammu and Kashmir following intelligence reports that some of them are being misused by militants.
Of the ten lakh pre-paid connections provided by Bharti Airtel in Kashmir, nearly 20,000 were being allotted to troopers alone, but apparently without proper verification.
Number of militants killed in encounters with the security forces were also found to be carrying SIM cards allotted to soldiers. A militant killed in an explosion in Baramulla was using a SIM card allotted to a soldier, while more SIM cards used by militants were found at the Kotbhalwal Jail in Jammu and a few were even used to detonate bombs.
The new plan of Airtel has also panic the intelligence and security agencies operating the state as they believe that huge number of such SIM cards may fell into wrong hands.
In December 2006, a J&K Police investigation found that a roadside bomb in Baramulla had been triggered by a cell phone, the first such attack in the Valley. It was found that militants had fraudulently procured the pre-paid SIM card using a fake identity of Army personnel. The form had a photograph in uniform, the unit's name, address and even a certificate from his superior, a Lieutenant Colonel.
"Militants procure lifetime SIM cards in bulk and then use them in such a manner that it becomes difficult for us to trace the user," said a police source.
Police officials said they had already asked the telecom operators to tighten safeguards given the exponential increase of cell phone connections in the state. There are an estimated 20 lakh mobile subscribers in the state, out of which over 10 lakh are pre-paid SIM cards. |
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