The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has dismantled an illegal telephone exchange in Bhiwandi, Thane district, suspected of facilitating terror-related activities. A 40-year-old man, Jafar Babu Usman Patel, was arrested during the operation, which was based on precise intelligence gathered over the past one-and-a-half years. The exchange, operational for over 18 months, is estimated to have caused a government loss exceeding Rs 3 crore by rerouting international calls to appear local. The ATS seized significant equipment, including 9 SIM boxes, 246 SIM cards, 8 routers, and 191 antennas. Authorities have filed a case under multiple laws, including the Indian Telegraph Act and the Telecommunications Act, and investigations are ongoing. This crackdown highlights ongoing efforts to combat illegal operations that may be linked to terrorism.