Shop owner held for forging ID cards

KOCHI: The police on Wednesday raided a shop near the South railway station and arrested the shop owner for forging identity cards which were used to get mobile phone connections. The arrested has been identified as Johnson, residing at Manjoran house, Elamkulam. The police raided the shop after receiving a complaint from Joby, a native of Panampilly Nagar, that Johnson had taken six connections using his voters identity card. The police also seized 1,300 SIM cards, ID proofs and photos from the shop. According to the police, Johnson made copies of the identity proof submitted by people while taking a new connection from his shop and duplicated their signatures. Using these IDs, he took several SIM cards to win prizes offered by mobile phone companies for those who activated 200 SIM cards.  The police said the illegal activity was carried out with the knowledge of mobile phone companies. The police are searching for accomplices in the case. The accused will be presented before the Judicial Magistrate on Thursday.