Click to play videoKashmir: There is a ban on the use of pre-paid SIM cards in Jammu and Kashmir but people are still using fake ids to buy pre-paid SIMs.
During the 22-hour long gunfight in Sri Nagar's Lal Chowk area between Pakistani terrorists and security forces, the Pakistani handlers kept in instructing the two terrorists, who were using pre-paid SIM cards.
The Lashker-e-Toiba terrorists Saifullah Qari and Manzoor had been provided with unverified pre-paid SIM cards by over ground conduits.
The Kashmir police say they were among the 105 SIM cards supplied to Lashker terrorists by one Javed Ahmad of Sopore. Javed has gone underground but police have arrested two of his associates.
"We have picked up these two persons and a third one will be with us soon. There are 105 SIMs some of which might have gone into terrorist channels," says Inspector General of Police Kashmir Farooq Ahmad.
Police now have the technology to smash terrorist networks by tracing mobile calls. That is why reports say terrorists are now being told to use SIM cards only during attacks. There are clear indications that the terrorists are adapting, with help from across the border.
"In Lal Chowk and Sopore encounters, terrorists kept on talking with their handlers which means Pakistan was conspiring," adds Ahmad.
Sources say there could be more than 1,000 unverified SIM cards in the Valley, whith many being procured under fake names or against unverified addresses.
In 2007, Bharti Airtel had to cancel over 10,000 such connections.
After the Lal Chowk gunfight the SIM card racket expose has the security establishment in a tizzy.
Police will have to toil hard to decode terrorists and their strong communication networks if they have to be on the top this year.
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