Srinagar, July 23: Call a police station in Kashmir and hear this: ‘Iss Route Ki Sabhi Linay Wyest Hai’ (All lines to this route are busy). Reason: the defunct telephone system which seems to be nobody’s concern in the department.
 While the J&K Police Department launched the “helpline service” with much fanfare a few years ago to provide communication link between people and police, a majority of landline telephones in Valley police stations are defunct—something causing huge inconvenience to people and scribes alike.
 While people off and on complain about the defunct telephones, sources in the police department candidly admit that the phones in most of the police stations and posts have gone defunct.
 “The telephone connections to police stations and posts in almost all districts have either not been repaired or have been deliberately kept non-operational for unknown reasons,” said a police source. “Even after receiving complaints from every nook and corner of the Valley, the police department is yet to issue directions to restore the telephone connections.”
 In north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, four police stations are without a landline connection, while telephones in some stations have turned defunct.
 In Baramulla district of north Kashmir the “helpline” connection is defunct in all 11 police stations. The figure was confirmed by officials at Police Control Room Baramulla.
 Among six police stations and four police posts in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, not a single helpline connection is functional—except that of Gurez, which also remains out of order most of the time. Officials at the PCR Bandipora confirmed this.
 In border district of Kupwara, among seven police stations and equal number of police posts, landline telephones of only Kupwara and Kralpora police stations are functional. Rest are defunct. Officials at PCR Kupwara confirmed the figure.
 In central Kashmir, among seven police stations and four posts, landline telephones are functional in police stations of Magam, Chraar-i-Shareef, Maama and Budgam. The helpline service in other stations and posts is “out of order.”
 Out of five police stations in north Kashmir’s Sopore town, landline telephone is functional only in police station Sopore while service is defunct in stations of Tarzoo, Bumai, Panzla and Dangiwacha. Officials at PCR Sopore confirmed the figure.
 In north Kashmir town of Handwara, out of four police stations and equal number of police posts, landline telephone is only functional in police station Handwara. Helpline service in other stations and posts is defunct. The figure was confirmed by PCR Handwara.
 In south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, out of two police stations and equal number of posts, the helpline connection is functional only in police station Pulwama. Others are defunct which even PCR Pulwama confirmed.  
 Out of three police stations and two police posts in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, only landline service at Police Station Shopian is functional. The service at other stations and posts is defunct. PCR Shopian confirmed this.
In south Kashmir’s Islamabad (Anantnag) district, the landline (helpline) service is defunct in all the nine police stations and six police posts.

WILL LOOK INTO IT: SAHAI
When contacted the Inspector General of Police Kashmir Range S M Sahai said he had no information regarding any snag in landline telephones in Valley police stations. “I don’t know why they are defunct. I will look into the matter,” he told Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Jul 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 24 Jul 2012 00:00:00 IST