Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 23: The installation of a mobile jammer at the district prison in Kodialbail has severely affected network services within a one-kilometer radius, causing frustration among residents, businesses, and professionals, including doctors who rely on mobile communication for emergencies.

The prison, located in the heart of Mangaluru city, is surrounded by hundreds of houses, apartments, shops, colleges, and hotels. The jammer has disrupted mobile services, particularly affecting Jio users, whose network has been completely disabled due to the newly installed 5G jammer.

District jail (File photo)

Doctors raise alarm over medical emergencies

Dr Padmanabh Kamath, a cardiologist at KMC Mangaluru and a resident of Kodialbail, has highlighted the serious risks posed by the network disruption.

"In a recent case, a patient from Horanadu, suffering a heart attack, tried multiple times to contact me while on his way to Mangaluru. Due to the jammer, none of his calls reached me. Fortunately, my postgraduate came personally to inform me, and I was able to rush to the hospital in time to perform a life-saving angioplasty. Had I not been informed in time, the outcome could have been tragic," he stated.

He further urged the authorities, including the police commissioner, civic officials, and the local MLA, to take immediate action to restore network connectivity while ensuring jail security remains intact. "The inability to communicate in critical situations can lead to irreversible loss of life," he warned.

Residents demand mobile detectors instead of jammers

Frustrated by the disruption, residents have demanded that prison authorities replace the jammer with mobile detectors to identify unauthorized phone usage inside the prison. They argue that instead of effectively preventing smuggling inside the jail, the measure is unnecessarily affecting the public.

Solution to be discussed with technical team

Confirming the network issue, jail superintendent Ashe Khan stated, "We have been receiving continuous complaints from local residents. We will discuss the matter with the technical team to find a suitable solution."