SSB intercepts SUV in Bahraich carrying military-grade communication devices smuggled from Nepal
In a major security alert along the Indo-Nepal border, seven individuals were apprehended in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district on June 27 for allegedly smuggling banned frequency-hopping walkie-talkies from Nepal into India. The arrest was made by the 42nd Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at the Rupaidiha checkpoint, a key transit location on the India-Nepal border, reported northeasternchronicle.in.
According to SSB Commandant Ganga Singh Udawat, the seized devices are highly regulated in India. These walkie-talkies operate on frequency-hopping technology, which changes transmission channels rapidly, making them nearly impossible to intercept—commonly reserved for military or high-security communication.
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The SUV carrying the seven suspects was flagged during a routine check. Concealed inside were five frequency-hopping enabled devices
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The suspects failed to present any legal authorization for carrying or transporting the gadgets across international borders
- Who Are the Accused?
Those arrested include:
- Mohammad Muslim, Bilal Abdul Rehman Sheikh, and Munir Yusuf Sheikh (Pune, Maharashtra)
- Temeshwar Bhondve (Thane, Maharashtra)
- Achalesh Kumar (Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh)
- Shankar Pandey (Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh)
- Changur Ahmed (Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh)
They were handed over to Rupaidiha Police and booked under the Indian Telegraph Act (1885), Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act (1933), and the Telecommunication Act (2023).
- Link to Suspected Radical Outfit
Investigations revealed the group had stayed overnight in Nepal at the home of Naseem Sheikh, linked to the Islamic Sangh of Nepal, an outfit under surveillance for alleged ties to Pakistani intelligence agencies. Authorities are probing whether the smuggling operation was part of a larger cross-border scheme.
Commandant Udawat stated: “This Nepal-based organization is known to receive operational and financial support from Pakistani agencies, making this connection deeply concerning.”
One of the accused, Mohammad Muslim, had traveled from Pune on June 24 for his daughter’s wedding. On June 26, he and the others crossed into Nepal and returned a day later—when they were caught by the SSB.
- Investigation Widens
All seven suspects are in judicial custody, with multiple agencies, including intelligence and anti-terrorism units, now involved in the probe. Officials are reviewing their:
- Travel histories
- Digital communications
- Financial transactions
An officer close to the investigation stated, “Their lack of transparency and possession of such high-grade equipment raises serious national security concerns.”
Security analysts have warned of the danger such devices pose when accessible to civilians. “These are not your regular walkie-talkies. Frequency-hopping units are military-grade. Their presence in border areas without authorization is alarming,” noted one defense expert.
- Border Security in Focus
The case has reignited discussions around India’s open-border policy with Nepal, which facilitates trade and transit but also leaves regions in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal vulnerable to smuggling and infiltration.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been briefed, and a detailed report is expected following the preliminary investigation.
