The service providers blocked the phones that did not had valid unique identification code. As per the new rule, handsets with false International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number have been blocked from mid-night due to security reasons. IMEI number is a unique 15-digit code that identifies a particular mobile.The Chinese mobile handsets have big demand in the market, though it comes with no guarantee / warranty. This kind of mobiles don’t have IMEI numbers. But people were buying it because of it’s fancy look and cheap price.

As the deadlines to get the IMEI ended yesterday, people thronged different centres till late in the evening to reinstall the genuine number in their handsets.Those who failed were unfortunate as their handsets became inactive from the mid-night. Following the government directives, the service providers in Chhattisgarh had cut off the services on the handsets that did not had an authenticated IMEI number.