Northeast helpline in Gurgaon gets only test calls

A special police helpline launched here last week for people from the northeast has only received calls from people wanting to check whether the helpline was in service or not, police said Monday.

The helpline number - 0124-2301559 - was launched by Gurgaon Police Commissioner Alok Mittal Oct 28 to assist people from the northeastern states residing here.

The manually-operated number has been in operation round-the-clock all seven days of the week.

"Twenty calls were received on the helpline, and the maximum were test calls. People wanted to check either the number was in service or not," a police officer told IANS.

"Three callers were keen to know about such a helpline number in Delhi. They also wanted to know the phone numbers of media persons working in Gurgaon," he said.

"To tackle language problems, a group of northeast people has assured police to provide volunteers, but only one has contacted us," he said.

Following an assault on two youths from Nagaland here Oct 15, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju met a group of students from the northeast and assured them of all possible help.

Aloto Chishi alias Sukoy and Awana alias James from Nagaland, both call centre workers, were beaten up and assaulted by a group of people in Sikanderpur area near the Mehrauli border. Five people were arrested for attacking the duo.