SRINAGAR, AUGUST 8: Railway Police at Mazhama Railway Station have busted a suspected stolen mobile phone racket, arresting two persons and recovering 59 smartphones of different brands from their possession.
According to officials, the action was taken by personnel of Railway Police Post Mazhama during the morning hours after a police team deployed outside the railway station noticed two persons travelling on a motorcycle and behaving suspiciously while carrying a large polythene bag.
The duo was intercepted by the police team and questioned regarding the contents of the bag. However, they allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.
During a subsequent physical check, police recovered 59 smartphones from their possession, following which both suspects were taken into custody.
The arrested persons have been identified as Shahnawaz Ahmad Rather (25), son of Abdul Rehman Rather, and Mehboob Hussain Rather (18), son of Fayaz Ahmad Rather, both residents of Mattipora, Pattan, Baramulla.
Police said the recovered consignment comprises 12 Samsung, 11 OnePlus, 7 Redmi, 6 Vivo, 5 Oppo, 5 Motorola, 4 Realme and 2 Xiaomi smartphones, besides one handset each of Infinix GT, Nothing, Honor, Narzo, Google, CMF and iQOO.
During preliminary questioning, Shahnawaz Ahmad Rather allegedly disclosed that the consignment had been sent to him through a courier parcel from Bengaluru in November 2025 by Showkat Ali Rather, son of Ali Mohd Rather, a resident of Mattipora, Pattan.
Police said that when the family of Showkat Ali Rather was contacted, it was learnt that he had been missing since November 2025.
In connection with the case, FIR No. 03 of 2026 has been registered at Railway Police Station Srinagar under Section 317 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 147 of the Railway Act.
Further investigation is underway. Railway Police are reportedly tracing the inter-state courier trail to establish the source of the recovered smartphones and identify other individuals who may be involved in the suspected racket.(KNC)
