Sat May 17 17:24:06 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a rewritten news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

The Assam Police, acting on intelligence from the Indian Army, have dismantled a large-scale fake SIM card racket allegedly linked to Pakistan. Seven individuals have been arrested across India (Rajasthan, Assam, Delhi, and Telangana). The investigation, dubbed “Operation Ghost SIM,” uncovered that the fraudulently obtained SIM cards were used for cybercrimes and potentially anti-national activities, including creating WhatsApp accounts with OTPs routed through Pakistan and possibly reporting Indian troop movements. Hundreds of SIM cards and other devices were seized. The police are investigating how the perpetrators bypassed verification procedures and are exploring a wider conspiracy.

**News Article:**

**Pakistan-Linked Fake SIM Card Racket Busted in India; Seven Arrested**

**Guwahati, India – May 17, 2025** – A major fake SIM card operation with alleged links to Pakistan has been dismantled by the Assam Police, resulting in the arrest of seven individuals across multiple states. The arrests, spanning Rajasthan, Assam, Delhi, and Telangana, followed a tip-off from the Indian Army’s Gajraj Corps regarding the use of fraudulently acquired SIM cards for cybercrimes and potential anti-national activities.

The operation, codenamed “Operation Ghost SIM,” was launched on May 14th by the Assam Police’s Special Task Force (STF). Five of those arrested are from Rajasthan: Saddik (47), Arif Khan (20), and Sajid (21) were apprehended in Alwar and Bharatpur districts, while Akeek (25) was arrested at Guwahati airport, and Arsad Khan (34) at New Delhi airport. Jakariya Ahmad (24) was arrested from Assam’s Dhubri district, and Mofijul Islam (19) in Telangana’s Sangareddy district.

“Our Special Branch and STF worked on this case with inputs provided by military intelligence, and our counterparts in Rajasthan and Telangana helped us catch the people involved in this racket,” stated Assam’s Director General of Police Harmeet Singh to reporters on Saturday.

Authorities seized 948 fake SIM cards and other technical devices during the operation. Additionally, 14 individuals have been detained in the Dhubri district for questioning regarding their potential involvement or victimization by the criminal network.

The investigation revealed that these SIM cards were used to create WhatsApp accounts with One-Time Passwords (OTPs) allegedly routed through Pakistan. DGP Singh also highlighted a concerning discovery: a previously seized fake SIM card was used to report the movement of Indian troops, raising serious security concerns.

Police believe the SIM cards were activated using forged documents and then distributed across state lines to conceal illegal activities and enable untraceable digital operations. Investigators are working with telecom service providers to determine how the perpetrators circumvented the established procedures for acquiring and operating SIM cards.

“We are in touch with the [telecom] service providers to find out how these people circumvented the procedures of acquiring and operating fake SIM cards,” Mr. Singh said.

The Assam Police are continuing their investigation, suggesting that a larger conspiracy may be at play.

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