Pre-Paid sims could again get banned as telecom operators have not completed verification process

Nitesh Sangral

JAMMU, Mar 26: Here is a bad news for prepaid mobile phone subscribers in Jammu & Kashmir, as pre-paid sim service could be banned from March 31, as telecom companies are not following the norms set by Union Home Ministry. Jammu & Kashmir has been used to various kinds of bans for obvious reasons. But the Union government's decision to ban pre-paid mobile connections in Jammu & Kashmir, citing security related reasons, has left the ‘aam aadmi’ in the past fuming. However most consumers across the country look at it as one strong step towards stringent subscriber verification process. This can affect nearly 38 lakh mobile subsribers of the state who use prepaid connections from various mobile service operators. The GSM mobile operator Airtel has nearly 19 lakh GSM subscribers followed by BSNL having 12 lakh and Aircel having 7 lakh. According to source despite directions, most of the telecom companies have not completed the verification process despite strong directions from the central government, citing the use by the militant organisations. The government may be forced to take action as telecom operators have shown disregard to the directions of the central government, due to which the common man would be inj problem. However when connected a senior officer from BSNL on condition of anonymity said that the company has completed the re-verifications data on July 2010. The Airtel officials said that their re-verifactions process would continue and they are making every effort to complete the process on time. “There is ultimatum to the companies to submit the data by March 31 and if it is not completed if they not complete data on this date the government closed pre-paid in this State. Due to which all the loss to the common masses who not getting the postpaid connections. Common masse said that the state as well central governments also don’t want to revoke the pre-paid services in Jammu and Kashmir State. In some cases, a single person had been issued with multiple numbers of connections. The fake documents/identity numbers are also reportedly being used by the vendors particularly, in the case of pre-paid connections. This situation had given rise to serious security concerns. The move to lift the ban will definitely lift the spirit of people in Jammu and Kashmir, who are using the pre-paid connections in large number to communicate within and outside the state. There was a huge public outcry against the ban imposed by Home ministry and even the J&K chief minister had spared no words in criticizing this ban.