Destruction of Students’ Mobile Phones Raises Data Security Concerns

The Nepal Mobile Entrepreneurs Association has expressed serious concern over the incident in Siraha where students’ mobile phones forcibly confiscated during exams were destroyed. In a statement, the association noted that submerging mobiles in water does not destroy the chips, increasing the risk of data theft. The incident reportedly caused financial losses exceeding NPR 10 million. The association has called for a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the students and urged the formalization of the second-hand mobile phone market. Kathmandu, 25th Jestha.

The association emphasized that due to lack of adherence to exam decorum, forcibly seizing and destroying phones cannot be justified when alternative measures exist. They clarified that since submersion does not damage the mobile’s internal chips, the risk of data theft remains high. In the statement released by Association President Ramesh Kumar Ghimire and General Secretary Chatendra Acharya, they stated, “Given Nepal’s lack of domestic mobile production capacity and complete reliance on imports from the international market, this incident imposes an additional economic burden on the Nepalese people.”

The association also asserted that the destroyed devices’ value exceeds NPR 10 million, causing economic damage to the country. They appealed to the government to legalize the second-hand mobile phone business, which they believe will increase stable revenue for the government and help keep currency circulating domestically. In Siraha, against examination regulations, seven iPhones, 489 Android mobile phones, and five smartwatches were forcibly confiscated from students who brought them into the exam hall.