KOHIMA, JULY 20 (MExN): The Angami Student’s Union (ASU) today picketed the main BSNL office in Kohima in protest against the latter’s failure to improve mobile services in the state capital in spite of several written and verbal assurance by the telecom department. ASU volunteers locked the gate of the BSNL main office since morning and none of the employees were allowed to enter the office. They also burned tyres and shout slogans against the poor service of mobile network in the state capital.
The agitation almost turned ugly when the GTM, P Santhan Sham arrived on the scene and started quizzing the student leaders without maintaining any protocol. However, after a verbal confrontation from the ASU leaders, the General Manager vanished from the scene. The ASU officials seized his car key and some files, which were however returned later after the meeting. Police and fire fighters had a tough time controlling the ASU volunteers from burning tyres in front of the BSNL office.
Earlier, the students even refused to meet the BSNL officials here, stating that assurance must come from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. However, after much persuasion and appeals by the APO and district administration the student leaders decided to hold a meeting with the BSNL officials at the DC Conference hall in the evening.
The Angami Student’s Union had demanded improvement of networking system of the cellular services, adequate compensation of cell one bills for subscribers against the month of November and December 2005 and immediate redress or remedial measures for cell one subscribers whose SIM cards have been ‘arbitrarily blocked for no reason.’
Meanwhile, the ASU decided to suspend its agitation after the General Manager gave assurance to have a meeting with the Chief General Manager, North East-II Circle next in Kohima, along with state government nodal officials. At the meeting which was held at the DC Conference Hall in the presence of Kohima Deputy Commissioner, Kohima SP, APO leaders, Angami Women’s Organization, ASU and Telecom officials, it was agree to have a meeting with CGM for the improvement of telecom services in Kohima, after the General Manager P Shantho sham, declined to give any assurance without the consent of BSNL higher ups. While the ASU cautioned that it would intensify its agitation if the BSNL failed to keep it promises of improved service, the BSNL officials tried to buy time citing various technical reasons, and passed the buck to their successors. General Manager, P. Santhan Sham was compelled to confess before the students that there are heavy pending works, backlog as well as inefficient exchange network.
