Bhubaneswar, Aug 18 2024 : Odisha Police have successfully uncovered a SIM box racket operating from Bhubaneswar, allegedly orchestrated by a Bangladeshi national, which was rerouting international calls to countries such as Pakistan, China, and regions in West Asia. The operation resulted in the arrest of Raju Mandal, a resident of West Bengal, and the seizure of over 1,000 pre-activated SIM cards, routers, and other related equipment from a rented house in the Odisha capital, according to a senior police officer. Commissioner of Police of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate, Sanjeeb Panda, revealed on Saturday that Mandal managed the operations on behalf of a Bangladeshi national identified as Asadur Jaman. Jaman had reportedly leased a property in Bhubaneswar, where he ensured the seamless functionality of essential services like UPS, internet, and other required systems.
“During preliminary interrogation, Mandal admitted that the SIM boxes were utilized to reroute international calls to Pakistan, China, and the Middle East. Although Mandal primarily resided in West Bengal, he made frequent visits to the Bhubaneswar property to resolve any SIM-related issues and conduct maintenance work,” Panda explained. He further elaborated on the nature of SIM boxes, stating that they are commonly used to obscure original phone numbers, making them a tool for various illegal activities, including cybercrime, hate speech, terrorism, and extortion. These activities pose significant challenges for law enforcement agencies. Panda also disclosed that Asadur Jaman had entered India through Agartala in October 2023 and stayed in Bhubaneswar until December, during which time he made payments to Mandal and is believed to have set up two additional SIM boxes. These are expected to be dismantled soon.
Given the involvement of a foreign national, Odisha Police are considering enlisting the assistance of national investigative agencies and Interpol to further probe the case.
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