Little would have this student of Madurai Law College thought that losing his electoral photo identity card (EPIC) would take him to the notice of the State police.
Only when the police came calling, he was reminded of the EPIC and a photograph missing from him while playing in the college ground in 2012. What he might have taken lightly could have made him think seriously only after knowing that someone had used the identity of proof and the photograph to get a SIM card from a mobile operator. And it was misused by none other than a naxalite, identified as Rupesh.
And the student was not aware of the fact that a SIM card had been in operation in his name for so long.
The incident should be an eye-opener for city residents while transacting with any agency with photocopies of their proof of identity, says a police officer.
“People simply sign on the copy of proof of identity for various purposes like opening a bank account, for a ration card, for a loan with a private finance company or to the cooking gas agency for getting subsidy and forget it,” the officer said.
Little do they realise that the same identity proof could be misused by unscrupulous elements that could have worse ramification, like in the case of the law student.
Whenever people give such photocopies of proof of identity, they should mention the purpose for what it is being given and to whom it is given on the copy itself while signing on it. For example, people should write down: For buying train ticket only; given to XYZ agency and then sign on it with date, the officer said.
“They should ensure that these words are written right on the image of the photocopy and not on the white space below it. For, anyone can easily take another photocopy using it,” he said.
Similarly, they should be vigilant while taking photocopies at the photocopying centres. One should ensure that the person making the copies does not take more than the number of copies ordered for.
In the case of the law college student, the mobile operator had failed to make field verification of the applicant and his address. “Though it is mandatory for the mobile operators to make field verifications, often it is carried out only for post-paid connections. Verifications done over calls could fail,” he said.
