Military rule: Bandipora residents required to register cell phones with army

Army camps registering SIM cards

Rising Kashmir Sept 10

B’pora subscribers in a fix, army terms it a safety measure
Mir Tariq
Bandipora, Sep 09:
In fresh diktat, the army is directing Arin, Bandipora residents to register their SIM cards in the nearby camps. Army, however, maintains that the measure is being taken for the safety and security of masses.
Villagers in Arin, Bandipora alleged that 14 Rashtryia Rifles (RR) personnel are compelling the locals to register their SIM cards in the army camps. “From past 15 days, 14 RR (Hunter Company) has been using public address system of mosques to direct people to register their SIM cards in the army camps,” said the villagers.
“The 14 RR personnel are compelling our elders to announce through public address system of mosques to register SIM cards issued by Airtel, BSNL and Aircel,” said a local on condition of anonymity as he feared reprisals.
He said that the soldiers have threatened the population of dire consequences in case they fail to register their SIM cards with the army camp.
The army diktats have created panic among the mobile subscribers in the Bandipora. “People have started registering their SIM cards with army camps after threats to their lives,” said the locals.
Jameel Ahmad (name changed) said, “Troopers threatened to arrest us and seize our mobile phones in case we defy their diktats, which is nothing other than a novel type of psychological torture.”
Questioning the army diktats, the locals said that army is inventing new ways to unleash terror in the area. “It is known to everybody that mobile companies are issuing SIM cards to a costumer after proper verification. There is no justification in asking mobile subscribers to register their SIM cards with army camps,” they said.
All the mobile companies like BSNL, Airtel or Aircel are issuing SIM cards after following the rules and regulations issued by the telecommunications regulatory. The telecom companies are following the proper policy in respect to regulation and acquisition of SIM cards.
A Public Relations Officer (PRO) of a mobile company told Rising Kashmir that all the SIM cards are registered and issued the customer after proper verification. “A SIM pack usually comes with a registration form. The issuance of SIM cards is facilitated by the National Identity card after getting consultation from investigative agencies in the State about the subscriber, who wishes to get SIM card from any company.”
"A national ID is the main reference number that is pegged to a person and all the transactions can be traced through the reference number. It is easy to trace a person," said a representative of another mobile company.
He maintained that he is unable to understand as to why army is compelling subscribers to register SIM cards in their camps.
Commanding Officer 14 RR, Col Khurana said, “We are registering SIM cards to prevent population from getting in trouble. This process also helps us to assist the people whenever they call us for help”.
He said that people should not worry about it (registering of SIM cards with army camps) as it is “for their protection and safeguard”.
Incharge officer of the 14 RR camp at Arin, Bandipora Kevin Pietersen told Rising Kashmir that army was just carrying on the process of registering the SIM cards. “This process has been initiated by other companies like 57 RR and 23 Punjab. There is nothing to worry,” he added.