Guwahati (Assam), May 16, 2025 (ANI): Assam police arrested 7 people who were helping people from Pakistan to use WhatsApp from Indian numbers by sharing OTPs. Assam DGP Harmeet Singh said, “We got the first input from Gajraj Military Intelligence that they had stumbled on a number of people who were sending OTPs to people in Pakistan to be used to set up accounts with Indian WhatsApp numbers... Technical analysis was done for the past many days, and on the 14th, the case was registered in the STF, and Operation Ghost SIM was launched. As part of that operation, teams were sent across to Hyderabad, Rajasthan... and since the 16th afternoon, seven people have been arrested, some in Bharatpur and Alwar... one on Guwahati airport... These SIM cards were used not only for cyber but also for anti-national activities. And in this case, there seems to be clear evidence that some of these numbers have been shared across and are being used by anti-national elements and inimical elements across to use WhatsApp accounts that look as if they are India-based.”
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00:00We got intelligence from the first input from Gajiraj military intelligence
00:05that they had stumbled on a number of people who were sending across OTPs to people in Pakistan
00:16to be used to set up Indian WhatsApp accounts with Indian WhatsApp numbers.
00:22Based on that, first our special branch and then our STF got into the act.
00:27Technical analysis was done for the past many days and on the 14th, a case was registered in the STF
00:35and Operation Ghost Sim was launched.
00:38As part of that operation, teams were sent across to Hyderabad, Telangana that is,
00:45and Rajasthan, Bharatpur and Alwar area, both.
00:50And since the 16th afternoon, seven people have been arrested.
00:55Some in Bharatpur and Alwar, one in Telangana from Sangha Reddy, one on Guwahati airport while he and his accomplice
01:07were trying to smuggle out SIM cards from here, about 948 to be exact, and one from Delhi airport.
01:16He had caught the flight, but we were able to send a team after him, and he was stopped in Delhi and then brought back.
01:22These SIM cards, as you know, this whole thing of Mule, like you call them Mule accounts, I will call them Mule SIM cards.
01:32So, SIM card is taken on somebody else's name, and then used not only for cybercrime, but also for anti-national activities.
01:40And in this case, there seems to be clear evidence that some of these numbers have been shared across
01:47and are being used by anti-national elements and inimical elements across
01:53to use WhatsApp accounts that look as if they are India-based.
01:59Sir, is it any possible for the leak of the terrorist or the US-based?
02:04As I said to you upstairs, this is the first information we are sharing with you.
02:11We have just picked up the people.
02:14Seven people are all arrested, and they will now be taken on remand as per legal process and interrogated,
02:22while another 15 are being questioned as to what was their role,
02:26because some of them, their names have been used to buy SIM cards.
02:29As the investigation progresses, as we always do, we will share further information with you.
02:36Sir, but we're in touch with people in Pakistan.
02:38We don't know who was in touch right now.
02:40We are part of the investigation, but yes, a couple of them, we know, have been sharing OTPs across.
02:49That is where the intelligence started from, and those IP addresses are also available.
02:54Of course, these are all matters for investigation and to go to court,
02:58but as we get down to exactly who was the person sharing them, we will share it with you.
03:04Right now, we have seven people in custody who were part of this network.
03:08Exactly what role was played by whom in this network will come out during the investigation.
03:12In fact, the people arrested in Rajasthan and Hyderabad are still on their way to Bharti.