Maoists seem to be more scared of cellphones than guns. They have, of late, been targeting at least one cellphone tower every month. They see the towers as a threat to their existence. After all with the mobile network spreading, it has becomes easier for the police to snoop in on the Maoists. Intercepting their calls helps the police track the Maoists.
Realising this, the Maoists have evolved a strategy. Before launching any fresh offensive, a section trained in damaging cellphone towers is asked to first disrupt the communication system. "It happened before arms were looted in Nayagarh and also before the attack on Nalco's Damanjodi mines," a senior policeman said.
In the last four months, Maoists have damaged 10 towers in southern Orissa alone. Even on Wednesday night Maoists burnt down two cellphone towers in Koraput district, about 500 km from here.
BSNL's Orissa Telecom circle CGM AN Ray said BSNL had suffered huge losses due to the constant attack on its towers. "Since March, BSNL has lost three huge towers in Southern Orissa," he said. It costs them Rs30 lakh to set up a tower. Besides BSNL, Reliance and Airtel, too, have lost a number of towers, suffering huge losses.
Ray said he had discussed the issue with senior police officials. "But we can't divulge any details," he said. But they will continue to spread their cellphone network, he said.
SPs of all districts where there is Maoist presence feel there is little they can do to prevent the Maoists from blowing up towers. "It is not possible to provide security to all the telecom towers," said a senior policeman. Maoists also damaged their wireless centre at Meghasani in the Similipal forest, he said. As a result, wireless communication systems in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and a part of Jajpur district has been severely hit. The police network depends entirely on eight wireless centres in remote areas of the state.
However, DIG (south-western range) Sanjeev Panda is undeterred. "It we set up a number of towers, how many will the Maoists destroy," he asks. Besides, he says, telecom companies can avail funds from the Universal Obligation Service Fund (USO) to repair these towers. "All telecom companies keep 5% of their profit with the Centre to spread the rural network. A lot of money is lying unspent. They can use it," Panda said.
Realising this, the Maoists have evolved a strategy. Before launching any fresh offensive, a section trained in damaging cellphone towers is asked to first disrupt the communication system. "It happened before arms were looted in Nayagarh and also before the attack on Nalco's Damanjodi mines," a senior policeman said.
In the last four months, Maoists have damaged 10 towers in southern Orissa alone. Even on Wednesday night Maoists burnt down two cellphone towers in Koraput district, about 500 km from here.
BSNL's Orissa Telecom circle CGM AN Ray said BSNL had suffered huge losses due to the constant attack on its towers. "Since March, BSNL has lost three huge towers in Southern Orissa," he said. It costs them Rs30 lakh to set up a tower. Besides BSNL, Reliance and Airtel, too, have lost a number of towers, suffering huge losses.
Ray said he had discussed the issue with senior police officials. "But we can't divulge any details," he said. But they will continue to spread their cellphone network, he said.
SPs of all districts where there is Maoist presence feel there is little they can do to prevent the Maoists from blowing up towers. "It is not possible to provide security to all the telecom towers," said a senior policeman. Maoists also damaged their wireless centre at Meghasani in the Similipal forest, he said. As a result, wireless communication systems in Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and a part of Jajpur district has been severely hit. The police network depends entirely on eight wireless centres in remote areas of the state.
However, DIG (south-western range) Sanjeev Panda is undeterred. "It we set up a number of towers, how many will the Maoists destroy," he asks. Besides, he says, telecom companies can avail funds from the Universal Obligation Service Fund (USO) to repair these towers. "All telecom companies keep 5% of their profit with the Centre to spread the rural network. A lot of money is lying unspent. They can use it," Panda said.
No comments:
Post a Comment