Seven individuals were apprehended by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) for possessing banned electronic walkie-talkie sets in Rupaidiha, situated on the India-Nepal border within Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district. The arrests occurred on Saturday night during a routine check of vehicles and passengers crossing from Nepal.
According to reports, the SSB's 42nd Battalion conducted the operation at the Rupaidiha Border Out Post. Upon inspecting a car entering India from Nepal, authorities discovered five frequency hopping enabled electronic walkie-talkie sets. These sets are banned due to security concerns, as their frequency-hopping capability makes them difficult to monitor. The individuals in the car could not produce valid documentation for possessing the restricted communication devices.
All seven occupants of the vehicle were immediately taken into custody. Preliminary investigations suggest that the arrested individuals had traveled to Nepal to meet with members of a Pakistan-based organization. Following the arrests, various intelligence agencies interrogated the suspects.
The arrested individuals have been identified as residents of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Four of them are from Maharashtra: Bilal Ahmed Rehan Sheikh, Mohammed Muslim, Munir Sheikh, and Temeshwar Bhondve. The remaining three are from Uttar Pradesh: Achlesh Kumar, Shankar Pandey, and Changur.
According to reports, the men from Maharashtra claimed to be in the catering business in Pune. They stated that their visit to Nepal was to meet with Naseem Sheikh, an official of an Islamic organization.
A First Information Report (FIR) has been filed at the Rupaidiha police station, and the seven individuals have been charged under the Indian Telegraph Act, Wireless Telegraphy Act, or relevant sections. They were presented in court and subsequently sent to jail.
The incident highlights the ongoing vigilance required at the India-Nepal border to prevent the smuggling of illegal items and potential security threats. The use of banned communication devices raises concerns about potential misuse and the need for stricter border controls. Security agencies are investigating the motives of the arrested individuals and their connections to the organization they allegedly met in Nepal.
