An 18-year-old pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh was taken into custody after security agencies allegedly found Pakistan-linked phone numbers on his mobile device.
July 24, 2026: A pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh travelling for the Amarnath Yatra has been detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police after security personnel allegedly found a Pakistan phone number on his mobile phone. The pilgrim, identified as 18-year-old Deepu Nishad from Bahraich district, was taken into custody after arriving in Jammu for the annual pilgrimage.
According to sources, Nishad purchased a temporary Yatri SIM card at Lakhanpur, the entry point to Jammu and Kashmir, as prepaid SIM cards issued in other states do not work in the Union Territory. Yatri SIMs are issued to pilgrims after Aadhaar verification and remain valid for a limited period during the pilgrimage. Authorities claimed that while staying at the Diyani Traffic Camp in Samba district, Nishad allegedly dialled a number carrying the +92 country code, prompting security agencies to intervene.
Security personnel reportedly searched his mobile phone and allegedly recovered additional phone numbers with the +92 country code. Following the search, Nishad was handed over to the Samba Police Station for further investigation. Police have not disclosed the nature of the alleged contacts and said the matter remains under investigation.