Residents near Central Jail are ‘not reachable’ for six months

Bengaluru: For the past six months, at least 20,0000 locals residing in Parappana Agrahara, near Electronics City, have been ‘unreacheable’ on their mobile phones. Reason: The phone jammers installed at Bengaluru Central Jail!
Frustrated residents staged a demonstration near the jail circle Saturday, demanding that the govt help them stay connected with the rest of the world, which they say has become impossible after the installation of Tower-Harmonious Call Blocking System’ (T-HCBS), commonly known as signal jammers.The residents allege that their mobile phones have become collateral damage in the crackdown against illegal use of mobile phones inside the jail.
TOI in its March 7 edition had reported on the pathetic conditions faced by locals as their mobile phones had stopped working; most importantly, the one-time-password messages that are essential for carrying out online transactions were badly affected.
There were instances where parents had become incommunicado when the school management tried to reach out to them to say their child in school was unwell and they should come immediately.
DGP-prisons and correctional services, Malini Krishnamoorthy had then told TOI that they would address the issue. Since nothing has changed, residents staged a protest at jail circle Saturday morning. When STOI called Malini Krishnamoorthy’, her phone was switched off. Her office staff said she is on leave.
Nithyanadan G, an IT professional who lives close to the prison, told STOI he had thrice raised the issue with the chief minister’s public grievance cell and had received a positive response, saying the matter would be looked into.
Following Saturday’s protest, which was posted on X tagging the CMO, Vaishnavi K, officer on special duty, public grievance cell of the CM, replied: “Please note. The officials concerned are looking into it.”
“Many such examples where people in emergenices fail to reach out to their dear ones due to jammers, can be given. Today, the superintendent of Bengaluru Central Prison, Shesha Murthy met us and accepted the request letter. We hope that at least this time, the govt will act,” Nityhananadan said.
Around 200 protesters had gathered in the circle, demanding a quick solution to the problem. ‘Jam the jammers, not the conversations’, ‘Keep the sweetness alive’, ‘we want better mobile networks’, and ‘Don’t jam our lives’ read the placards, displayed by the protestors.
Phone lines of police
station jammed too
Not only residents but officials working at jurisdictional Parappana Agrahara police station too expressed dismay over the jammers.
“The jammers can be made to work inside the prison. But why are outside signals being targeted? We cannot use our mobile phones here and our seniors have to call us on landlines to contact us,” they said.