The installation of “V-Kavach” jammers to check mobile phone use inside the Patiala Central Jail has left residents of nearby areas harassed, as they are facing difficulties in accessing the Internet, besides experiencing frequent call drops.
The installation of “V-Kavach” jammers to check mobile phone use inside the Patiala Central Jail has left residents of nearby areas harassed, as they are facing difficulties in accessing the Internet, besides experiencing frequent call drops.
This is the second jail in the state to see the installation of “V-Kavach” jammers after Bathinda. Using LAN (local area network) WiFi has been a tough task due to frequent disruptions for the past one week, residents said. “Call drops are a common experience for those on the main road near the jail. The WiFi signal in the Police Lines, Phulkian Enclave and near Bhadson road areas is disrupted too often,” they claim.
“Contacting each other during peak working hours also becomes difficult. Internet glitches often disrupt official working in the area. Service providers attribute these things to the installation of jammers in the
jail,” said an employee at the Mini Secretariat.
A senior official said the Prison Department might have increased the signal strength of jammers, causing difficulties for residents living in nearby areas. The non-receipt of OTPs often affected digital transactions.
Patiala Central Jail Superintendent Varun Sharma said BSNL officials brought the issue to his notice last week. “The testing phase of the jammers is on and the company has been apprised of the issue. They will soon conduct a survey in this regard,” he added. The range of these jammers was generally limited to only 100 m, he said.
The jammers were installed in January and have been put on a trial run. These will soon be put to optimum use to ensure “zero connectivity for the jail inmates”.
Last year, the state government got the green light from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to proceed with the installation of “V-Kavach” jammers in various jails across the state. The Bathinda jail was the first to get these jammers.
BSNL officials had also recently approached the jail authorities raising concern over the installation of jammers saying it would affect connectivity in the area. People living over one km away from the Patiala Central Jail have also complained of connectivity issues.
The Tribune
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