Illegal telephone exchange busted in UP's Maharajganj

The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted an illegal telephone exchange running from a room at Madhuban in neighbouring Maharajganj district and arrested four persons in this connection, police said Saturday.

Besides, three SIM boxes, three routers, an extension board, two data cables, two laptops, 24 postpaid SIM cards, Rs 3,000 in cash, five mobile phones and 22 antenna were also seized from the spot on Friday, they said.

Acting on a tip off, a team led by DSP Pankaj Singh raided a room in Madhuban area under Nautanwa police station limits in Maharajganj and arrested four persons, police said.

The arrested persons have been booked under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, Indian Telegraph Act, and the Information Technology Act, the DSP said.

During interrogation, one of the arrested persons, identified as Afzal, told police that he was in Mumbai earlier and used to operate an illegal telephone exchange from a room in Bhiwandi with the help of one Razi.

Afzal said he shifted to Azamgarh after police were tipped off about their presence and after meeting one Alex, he started running an illegal exchange from a rented room. He said Alex used to pay him Rs 4-5 per minute for an international call.

Afzal said they used to change the location of exchange frequently, the DSP added.