Pre-paid service: J&K telecom operators may face action

Less than a month after lifting of the ban on pre-paid mobile services in Jammu and Kashmir, some telecom operators are under lens as the Government has objected to the manner in which the re-verification of subscribers had been done.

Less than a month after lifting of the ban on pre-paid mobile services in Jammu and Kashmir, some telecom operators are under lens as the Government has objected to the manner in which the re-verification of subscribers had been done.

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The government may also initiate legal action against defaulting operators, official sources said.

The issue of re-verifications reached the Union Home Ministry, which has sought a detailed report from various
agencies in the state about the allegations made, the sources said.

The telecom operators of the state -- Airtel, Aircel, Reliance, Vodafone, Idea and Tata Indicom -- have been asked
to submit details of the re-verification camps organised in the state, especially in Kashmir valley from January 22
onwards when the ban was lifted, the sources said.

When approached with a common question through email seeking their response, all the telecom operators chose to
remain silent and did not answer questions sent by the PTI.

A senior official of the Union Home Ministry conveyed to the telecom operators the Government's concerns over "lapses" in re-verifying the pre-paid subscribers which could have serious security repercussions, they said, adding the new guidelines ensured strict action and penalties will be imposed if any operator was found guilty.