Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Sept 6: Amid partial clampdown on prepaid cellular services in Kashmir valley, the black marketing and back-door selling of postpaid SIM cards of State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has increased the woes of customers as black marketers while taking undue advantage of present crisis are selling new SIM cards at exorbitant rates.
Hundreds of people throng the BSNL headquarters at Srinagar to get new postpaid SIM cards but it takes time in the name of verification which ultimately force them to buy SIM cards through back door at Rs 1500-2500 which is three times more than the actual rate fixed by BSNL.
Arshid Ahmad, a resident of frontier Kupwara district, has been visiting BSNL office for last ten days but to no avail. “I have almost seen every room of this office. They sent me from one room to another. My application form and documents are complete but still they have told me to mark my application form. Despite visiting the office 6-7 times no one is marking it,” he said.
“I don’t understand what kind of Government is this. We cannot venture out of our homes, can’t use internet and now they are not letting us to talk to our loved ones,” said the aggrieved Kupwara resident.
General Manager BSNL Kashmir, M Saleem Beigh, when asked about black-marketing of SIM cards and possible involvement of some employees in the affair, said: “I have not noticed any misappropriation at the sale counters. We sell new postpaid connections for Rs. 500 which are refundable at anytime and if someone is selling it at higher rates outside we have nothing to do with that. I will still look into it and if any official is found guilty we will take strict action.”
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel