KATHMANDU, Nov 9: The Development Committee of the parliament on Monday directed the government to check the growing use of mobile SIM cards by criminals especially in bordering Tarai districts.
In a meeting at its office in Singha Durbar, the Development Committee directed Ministry for Information and Communications (MoIC) to check the illegal use of mobile SIM cards belonging to private telecom companies in the country. Minister for Information and Communications Shankar Pokharel was present during the meeting.
A field study conducted recently by Development Committee delegation in Bara and Parsa had concluded that the installation of Mero Mobile towers near the Indian border in these districts had made it easier for criminals to issue threats over mobile phones.
The team led by the Committee Chairman Jitendra Sonar found that criminals were using Nepali mobile SIM cards from Indian soil and Indian mobile SIM cards from Nepali soil. The use of such mobiles SIM cards by criminals has left the ordinary people in general and businessmen in particular in a panic.
Lawmakers complained that criminals are kidnapping and extorting businessmen and issuing threats using such SIM cards in various Tarai districts including Bara, Parsa, Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu.
Speaking at the meeting, Minister Pokharel said the government will take all possible measures to stop criminal misuse of mobile SIM cards. He expressed commitment that the government will take measures to effectively regulate distribution and use of mobile SIM cards.
Police investigators said the lack of incoming and outgoing call detail record (CDR) device with the telecom companies has created difficulty in apprehending those involved in misuse of mobile phones.
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