Telecom companies complain to ADGP

Telecom operators in Punjab have approached police over alleged disruption of services by some anti-social elements in 19 districts of the state, following which authorities registered a case in this connection.
Indus Towers Limited, Tower Vision, Viom Networks, BSNL and telecom service providers Idea Cellular, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, Tata Tele Services have jointly given a representation to the Additional Director General of Police-Law and Order (ADGP), Punjab in this connection, an official spokesman said here today.
In a signed representation, they have complained against alleged unlawful and illegal acts of damaging and interfering in telecom network, equipment and frequent sabotage by some technicians of contractors of telecom service providers along with anti-social elements in 19 districts of Punjab, he said.

Indus Towers, BSNL, Viom, TVI, Idea, Airtel, Vodafone, Tata Teleservices and Videocon team members participated in the meeting with the ADGP and discussed the "alarming increase" in vandalism of telecom sites and equipment in certain districts of Punjab, he said.
The ADGP assured the telecom service providers that they will extend necessary support and specify directives to all police stations in Punjab.
The disruptions have led to complete halt in mobile networks in 19 districts -- Barnala, Bathinda, Firozepur, Chandigarh, Faridkot, Fategarh Sahib, Fazlika, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Ludhiana, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Mohali, Nawanshahar, Panchkula, Patiala, Ropar and Sangrur.

Services of about 39 police stations, 45 hospitals, ambulance, fire services, banking services, across Punjab have been affected by disruption of the network, officials said.

Telecom communication services were disrupted temporarily, but were later restored in the affected areas, they said.
An FIR has been lodged under various sections of the IPC at police station in Moga City by the telecom service providers seeking strict action against the miscreants which affected the "essential services" (Mobile Telecommunications comes under the ambit of Essential Services under the Essential Services and Maintenance Act, 1968).