by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore

Mysore, Apr 5: Cell-phones have become so convenient and popular that they are integral part of our lives. Contrary to the belief, cellphones have become alien to landline phones in Police Department here and have become inaccessible.

Of course, like anyone, Police too love to use mobile phones, but they have become a nightmare for the top brass. To ease the problem caused by excess calls made from landlines to cellphones, the Police bosses have imposed a ban on such calls.

Hereafter, there will be no connection between landline phones in Police Stations and cell-phones. The reason is very obvious. To bring down the bill amount of landlines, the top brass of the Department made umpteen attempts and brought in several measures to keep the phone bills low but to no avail. Locking the instrument and dynamic code lock also proved futile. The smart Police personnel who are adept in nabbing thieves, could easily decipher the code.

When the telephone bill started escalating astronomically, the Police top brass, who could not contain the surging bill by requests and notices, decided to do away with the facility to call mobile phones from landlines.

Senior Officers had suggested that the telephone bill of landline of each Police Station should not exceed Rs. 2,000 but the mission failed and the bill ranged from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000. Hence, there was no other option but to cancel the facility to call cellphones, which contributed to the major chunk of the bill.

The question arose is, what if there is an emergency to contact someone on cellphone. Bosses' answer were simple, 'use coin booths.'

Now there is a scramble for setting up coin booths in front of Police Stations. Few Police personnel themselves are allegedly busy to set up the coin booths. Unable to stand the pressure of the Police personnel to establish the booths, the heads of Police Stations have started offering the task to private parties. Hence, in future everyone in a Police Station should use the coin booth if the call is to be made to a cellphone or use their personal mobile phone.

The really affected are the honest Policemen, who while tackling sensitive cases, used to rely on cellphones which was more confidential too. With everyone rushing to the coin booth, the Police will have a tough time to cope with the new order.