Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010752510400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Invoke NSA against cable snappers: Arasu Cable Corporation MD

V.S. Palaniappan

90% of subscribers discontinue services due to disruption in transmission

— Photo: K. Ananthan

ON THE SPOT: Arasu Cable TV Corporation’s Managing Director C.Umashankar (right), watching technicians locate disruption in a cable line on Avinashi Road in Coimbatore on Monday.

Coimbatore: Arasu Cable Corporation Managing Director C. Umashankar has demanded invoking of the National Security Act (NSA) against those who snap its cables.

Snapping of optic fibre cable lines at 60 points in over 36 places in the last few days resulted in a notional loss of Rs.9 lakh a cable. Because of the disruption in transmission, more than 90 per cent of its subscribers had discontinued the services, Mr. Umashankar told The Hindu.

Company officials and operators in Coimbatore had lodged police complaints.

The snapping of cables resulted in the corporation suffering a loss of over Rs.25 lakh.

Mr. Umashankar on Monday night visited close to 30-odd places, taking stock of the damage caused to the cables lines.

The company has more than 300 operators in Coimbatore and one lakh connections compared to the other three places. But, because of the snapping of cable lines, the services had been paralysed, leaving only 25 operators and 10 per cent of the total subscriber base.

When contacted, police officers said 10 cases had been registered against various groups for snapping of cable lines at R.S. Puram, Race Course, Saravanampatti, Sai Baba Colony, Ukkadam, Rathinapuri and within Peelamedu police station limits. A complaint had been received from Arasu cable operators and Community Service Register (CSR) receipts issued. Jurisdiction officers have been asked to verify the complaints and, if prima facie a cognisable offence was made out, cases would be registered.