High SIM card sales: Bellad hints at prospect of ‘digital war’

Hubballi: Raising concerns about the jump in the sale of SIM cards in Hubballi-Dharwad, Deputy Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly Arvind Bellad on Monday hinted at the possibility of Muslims from abroad plotting a ‘digital war’.

Bellad said that several locals had intimated him about Muslims from other countries frequenting mosques in the twin cities. “Although I relayed these concerns in a letter to the Police Commissioner, no action has been taken,” he rued.

Pointing to the spurt in the sale of SIM cards between May 2 and 10, Bellad said, “There have been instances of four to five SIM cards being bought under one name. Police must ascertain whether these SIM cards are being purchased with the intention of launching a digital war against Indian citizens or if there is some other motive.”

Admitting that suspicious activity could be afoot in other cities of Karnataka too, he said, “But the police have not been given a free hand in the state to probe such issues.”

However, Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar, who held a press conference on Monday, said that Bellad’s letter had not been ignored. “We inspected the masjids in Jannat Nagar and Arogya Nagar in Dharwad, where 21 Muslim youngsters from Surat in Gujarat are pursuing religious training,” he said, adding that the youngsters’ Aadhaar and passports had also been verified.

“No foreigners were found at any masjid,” Kumar said and added that the police would also inquire into issuance of multiple SIM cards to a single buyer.