Getting threat messages? Time to change your number

After her complaints fell on deaf ears, Noida bank executive was compelled to get a new connection

While VVIPs in the capital receiving threat SMSes created quite a flutter recently and a police crackdown ensued, it seems the hoi polloi have little reason to rejoice. After approaching the police on several occasions on receiving abusive messages, Nivedita Charlie, an executive with Barclays Bank in Noida, finally had to change her number.

"If I was an important personality, I wouldn't have faced this problem. Someone kept stalking me and sent vulgar SMSes even after lodging a police complaint," alleged Nivedita.

The bank executive, who had been using her Idea connection for the last three years, started receiving vulgar SMSes and calls from an unknown number (08955357460). "I had got that connection in October 2006 and I had forwarded my number to everyone. It was on February 21 when I started getting 7-8 missed calls from this unknown number. As my mobile is mostly in my locker when I am at the bank, I couldn't take those calls," said Nivedita.

On February 22 when Nivedita had an off, she again received a call from the same number, the person at the other end started abusing her. "I picked up, but the caller started using vulgar language. I immediately disconnected the phone but from then on I started getting 10-12 SMSes and missed calls each day," added Nivedita.

"On the instructions of my seniors and friends I dialled 100. The Noida police suggested that I file a complaint with the Delhi police's women's cell, which is in Rohini. I filed the complaint and I was also given a reference number. Moreover I received a written complaint on February 23, but it did not help me much. Frequency of calls and SMSes increased. Police could only trace that the call was coming from Uttar Pradesh, but it hardly brought me any relief. So finally I was compelled to change my number."

A senior police official said, "We have kept the number on surveillance and have traced the call. We are trying to get the details of the caller and the document filed getting the connection."