Residents protest as signal jammer disrupts cellphone connectivity

Amritsar, September 2

Backed by leaders of the BJP, residents of colonies around the Amritsar Central Jail today held a demonstration against the prison authorities for installing a mobile phone signal jammer inside the high security complex which obstructed their incoming and outgoing cellphone calls.

Residents participated in a protest, which was also attended by BJP district president Harvinder Singh Sandhu along with party workers.

Over 15,000 residents of localities, including Waheguru City, Dream City and two villages on the Jhabhal road, were affected after the Central Jail authorities increased the range of cellular signal jammer. People of all age-groups, including shopkeepers, students, teachers, housewives, agriculturists and others, are perturbed as their social media accounts have gone defunct due to the mobile phone jammer.

With a view to curb activities of criminal elements operating from the Central Jail premises through mobile phones, the state government installed a cellular signal jammer inside the high security prison complex in June last year. The harmonious call blocking system blocks 2G to 5G signals. Its range covers localities situated in the jail’s vicinity.

The authorities said they were compelled to take drastic steps after the Central Jail witnessed seizure of a large number of mobile phones and other prohibited material. It was pointed that unabated sneaking of forbidden goods, including narcotics and cellphones, inside the high security complex was due to its close proximity to the densely populated areas around jail.

Avtar Singh Bhullar, a resident of the Jhabhal road, said the Central Jail was shifted here around eight years ago while people had been living here for generations.

He said before taking such a drastic step, the government should have considered the impact of shifting jail premises on the people and their livelihood. He said the government did not consider needs and troubles of stakeholders living in the area.

Ramanpreet Kaur, a teacher, said students could not contact their teachers through their social media accounts for any help. It was harming their studies, she said.

Located close to the city, the Jhabhal road drew attention of home buyers with a moderate budget. Over the years, localities like BB Enclave, Dashmesh Vihar, Thakur Ji City, Shiva Vihar and Green City had come up on the road. Besides, a private and many government schools were also located on the road.