Cops to make mobile network in Gadchiroli and Gondia districts Maoist-proof with central aid

Cops to make mobile network in Gadchiroli and Gondia districts Maoist-proof with central aid
Maharashtra Police is installing mobile telephone towers on its premises in Naxal-affected areas of east Maharashtra following frequent disruption in services due to damage caused by the militants.

The department of telecommunications has approved setting up 60 mobile towers in Gadchiroli, Chandrapur and Gondia districts over the next 12 months, which will not just keep the existing mobile communication going but also provide connectivity to more interior areas in tribal districts.

In the state’s Maoist-hit districts, mobiles have emerged as the quickest and cheapest form of communication as the police wireless system is not secure and has its geographical limitations, and satellite phones are accessible to only afew. Mobile towers installed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have been frequently targeted by Maoists to disrupt police communication. Now, under a centrally sponsored programme, 60 BSNL mobile towers will be installed at secure locations like police stations, out-posts and revenue tehsil offices, which enjoy 24x7 police protection. The scheme provides for 2,200 such towers across the country in Naxal-affected areas.

“Thirty seven towers will be installed in Gadchiroli, 17 in Gondia and six in Chandrapur district. We hope these towers will help improving communication,” a senior IPS officer posted in Gadchiroli said.

According to IGP () Ravindra Kadam, mobile telephony in Gadchiroli is essential not just for operational needs but also to help personnel connect with their families. “Officers and men deployed in interior and inaccessible parts of Gadchiroli will be able to be in touch with families,” Kadam said.