Guwahati: Police arrested five persons in Assam's Nagaon and Morigaon districts for their alleged involvement in procuring SIM cards from different service providers fraudulently and supplying those to some Pakistani agents and thus working against the integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

The apprehended persons are hailing from central Assam's Nagaon and Morigaon districts and police recovered 18 mobile phones, 136 numbers of SIM cards and other items in possession from them.

According to Assam police, the operation was launched based on the input of a Central agency and reliable source.

"Based on inputs by a Central Agency and also inputs from reliable sources it came to light that approximately 10 persons from Nagaon and Morigaon districts are involved in procuring SIM Cards from different service providers fraudulently and supplying those to some Pakistani agents and thus working against the integrity and sovereignty of the nation. Accordingly, last night an operation was led by Additional SP (Crime), SDPO Kaliabor and several Police Officers of Nagaon district which resulted in the apprehension of five persons," Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan, IGP (L&O) said.

The apprehended persons were identified as Ashiqul Islam (21 years old), Bodor Uddin (23 years old), Mijanur Rahman (23 years old), Wahiduz Zaman (27 years old) and Baharul Islam (30 years old).

The police team have seized 18 mobile phones, 136 SIM cards, suspected to have been procured for fraudulent purposes, one finger print scanner, one high-tech CPU, some related documents (Birth Certificates, Passbooks, Photographs etc) in possession from them and from other absconding suspect's houses.

"During interrogation till now, it has been revealed that accused Ashiqul Islam was using a mobile handset with two IMEI numbers from which a Whatsapp call was made sharing Indian Defense System related information with a foreign embassy (input shared by IB). That specific mobile handset was found from his possession. Other picked up persons are also found technically involved in this connection. Thorough interrogation in collaboration with the IB officials is on," Prasanta Kumar Bhuyan said.

A case has been registered at Nagaon Police Station (case no - 236/23) under Section 120(B)/121(A)/419/468/471/34 IPC, R/W Sec 18/18B/19 of UA(P) Act, 1967.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)