Indian authorities arrest Nepalese national for operating illegal telephone exchange near Indo-Nepal border

Indian security agencies arrested a Nepalese national, Ashok Pathak, for operating an illegal telephone exchange near the Indo-Nepal border. The arrest occurred on January 10, following intelligence inputs that led to the discovery of the exchange in a vehicle. Authorities seized nine Nepalese SIM cards, one Indian SIM card, and various identification documents during the operation. The illegal exchange could have routed calls from Pakistan through Indian channels, raising national security concerns. Investigators are examining the SIM cards to gather data and assess potential links to espionage or terrorism. This incident underscores ongoing vulnerabilities at the Indo-Nepal border, previously exploited for illegal activities.