Mobile cos asked to freeze phones without IMEI number

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh police has warned mobile companies operating in the state to freeze the hand sets especially the Chinese ones, which do not have International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number or face the music.

"Such mobile handsets without IMEI numbers pose a threat to security as they can not be traced during surveillance. The mobile companies have been asked to freeze such mobiles. Strict action will be taken against the companies flouting the
orders," UP director general of police Vikram Singh said in a circular sent to district police chiefs.

He said that the mobile companies were not following directives issued by the Ministry of Telecom and Information Technology asking them to freeze services of cell phones which did not have IMEI numbers.

The DGP also directed the officers to shortlist companies which were not following the guidelines so that action can be recommended against them.

The UP police already had a meeting with the mobile companies in this regard but no positive action was taken by the companies.