Cops use IMEI numbers to track student leaders!!

Rajesh, a research scholar in Osmania University who is actively taking part in Telangana agitation on the campus was arrested two days ago near Khammam. Cops arrested him as a preventive measure to ensure he doesn't participate in the 'Vidyarthi Garjana' meet. Similarly, another student Rajaram Yadav was picked up by Task force police at Vidyanagar a couple of days ago. Police arrested them with the help of IMEI (International mobile equipment identity) number of his mobile phone.

Sources from Police department confirm that at least half a dozen students from OU have been arrested using the IMEI numbers of their mobile numbers when they have come out of the campus. With the news of Rajesh's arrest reaching the OU campus, hundreds of students who are agitating have either took another mobile connection and a few have decided to switch off their mobiles when they leave the campus and others are spreading awareness asking students to remove their SIM cards when they are out of the campus.

Ironically, IMEI is the number of the equipment and not the SIM card and as long as the students carry the same mobile phone, they can be traceable. Police department has arrested several student union leaders allover the city who were unaware of this fact using their mobile's IMEI number.

On Saturday, several OU JAC members were found with two mobile phones each to keep the police guessing. Students also allege that cops are tapping their phones to know their moves.

"We are just students who are agitating for a separate state in a democratic way. Police department is tracking our phones and treating us like terrorists. We are changing mobile phones, going underground or carrying multiple phones to avoid arrests" said Rama Rao Goud, JAC member.

City Police commissioner Mr B Prasada Rao who refused to confirm if the police is using IMEI to track the student leaders said that the department uses several methods which can't be disclosed."I can't confirm if we are using such a technology. We might use several methods to track people we want to. It is not for public consumption" he said.