Check all Sim cards: RR Patil

The state government on Thursday asked all mobile service provider companies to carry out an authentication campaign of subscriber identity module (Sim) cards purchased so far.

The order comes after the Sim cards in connection with the firing at Jama Masjid in Delhi were traced to the city.    

“The mobile companies should carry out a verification campaign of Sim cards with the help of the home department as a precautionary measure,” said home minister RR Patil.

“We have spoken to the companies and some of them have already started the process,” he said. “The police would seize bogus cards during the drive.”  

On September 19, two unidentified men had opened fire outside Jama Masjid, injuring two Taiwanese tourists.

The Indian Mujahideen, a terrorist organisation, had sent an e-mail owning up the attack. Later, it was found out that the e-mail was sent using a mobile phone.

During investigations, it was found that the phone and the Sim card were purchased using a fake name and address in Mumbai.  
Patil said that two people had been detained for questioning in connection with the incident. 

The home minister also said that the state government may soon increase the salaries of its policemen. Once their salaries go up, the minister said, the policemen would be the highest paid in the country.

According to him, the backlog of the 2,500 vacant PSI posts will be filled up by next year and a police training centre would be converted into a PSI training centre.