North East MPs concern at Bangladesh mobile signals

Shillong, Nov 19: Members of Parliament from three North Eastern states have raised serious concern over the availability of Bangladesh mobile signals in absence of any telecom service provider along the international border.

The three MPs - Robert Kharshiing (Meghalaya) and Vanlalzwana (Mizoram) and Motilal Sarkar (Tripura) - took up this issue with BSNL officials of North East and expressed concern over the use of Bangladesh telecommunication service by businessmen and various militant groups of the region.

Yesterday's meeting between the MPs and BSNL authorities assumed significance following Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh's taking up the issue with his Cabinet colleague Dayanidhi Maran.

'' The use of Bangladesh mobile service by the militant groups inside our border is major security threat and a matter of serious concern for the nation,'' Mr Kharshiing told UNI here today.

In recent times, Meghalaya police had seized a number of Bangladesh Grameen mobile SIM cards from arrested militants operating in the state.

He said the unavailability of telephone network of Indian companies in the bordering areas was the main reason compelling the people to avail the service of Bangladesh Grameen Mobile Phone.

'' Conversation can't be monitored as most of the people are using a foreign telephone network in those areas. It is a serious concern for the country, '' Mr Kharshiing said.

''We have suggested BSNL to approach the Defence and Home Ministries to sort out the problem '' the NCP Rajya Sabha member said adding his colleagues had also urged the telecom authorities to improve telecom service in the three states.

BSNL Chief General Manager of North East circle 1 A K Gupta told the MPs his department had taken all steps to improve telecom network in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura despite hampering of expansion plans due to shortage of manpower, difficult terrain and remoteness of the region.

However, his department had taken steps to cover the border areas by installing telephone exchanges, he said.

Mr Gupta said the NE-1 circle proposed to cover most of the villages in Meghalaya through Wireless in Local Loop (WLL), broadband connections in state's district headquarters in Baghmara, Jowai, Nongpoh, Nongstoin, Tura and Williamnagar.

UNI