Siliguri, Jan 12: A Nepalese national, identified as Yoganidhi Pathak, was arrested on Friday in a joint operation conducted by Sukna Military Intelligence and Kharibari Police near Panitanki, located along the Indo-Nepal border. Pathak was found in possession of an illegal SIM box, multiple SIM cards, and a range of identification documents, including Indian and Nepalese IDs.
Pathak, a resident of Illam district in Nepal, was found with a SIM box that can hold up to 16 SIM cards at once, along with seven Nepalese SIM cards, one Indian SIM card, a router, 12 antennas, wiring cables, and adapters. He also carried a Nepalese identity card, driving license, and an Indian Aadhaar card, as well as two Indian and four ATM cards from various Nepali banks.
The accused, whose Indian identity was listed as Ashok Chettri, was arrested at around 3:30 PM from his SUV while transporting the illegal equipment. The SIM box, which allows users to bypass international phone calls by rerouting them as domestic calls, is commonly used for fraudulent activities.
Darjeeling SP Praween Prakash noted that investigations are underway to determine the intended recipient of the SIM box and its intended use. Authorities are concerned that such SIM boxes are often used in call bypassing schemes, which are illegal and detrimental to the telecom industry.
Pathak has been remanded in police custody for five days, and the investigation is ongoing to uncover the full scope of his activities and cross-border implications.