Lucknow, Jan 21 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh anti-terrorist squad (ATS) Thursday arrested four youths from Lucknow and Azamgarh for illegally making calls worth Rs.44 lakh on satellite phones after illegally acquiring SIM cards, a statement said.

The four youths used to get money deposited in their accounts through hawala and money transfer companies, according to the press statement issued here Thursday night by the office of the director general of police (DGP).

Two were arrested from Lucknow and two from Azamgarh in the ATS operation that was assisted by the police.

"Those arrested managed to procure Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) SIM cards with ISD facility Jan 2 illegally. Since then, they had made several international calls," the statement said without mentioning the place to where the calls were made.

According to officials, one of the youth, Abu Hamza told the ATS that he started making calls to satellite phones after his friend in Saudi Arabia provided him some numbers of satellite phones and told him that the exercise would help him make money on every call made.

Officials have not ruled out the involvement of some BSNL officials in provided SIM cards to the youths without following procedural norms.