POKHARA--With the spread in mobile services throughout the country, there has been a surge in crime as well. Police blame the rise in criminal activities on the careless distribution of SIM cards, especially in the incidence of abductions and kidnappings. Tul Bahadur Karki AIG in Kaski said, "With half a dozen SIM card carrying different names and different locations, it is very easy for criminals to threaten or harm people and still escape."

He says the ease with which customers can register for SIM cards from various companies under different identities is primarily to blame. A simple student ID suffices to register for SIM cards, which means that with fake names and contact numbers, criminals can easily cover their tracks. Karki is planning to step up vigilance against illegal SIM card registrations.