Criminals in India have been stealing telephone network cables from various areas in the Punjab region, causing serious disruption to telecommunication services.
According to the Hindu Business Line, a crime wave has been taking place over the last six months, with cables belonging to Indian telecoms firm BSNL being hit.
"Thieves and anti-social elements have been at work recently and have stolen our cables from manholes/bridges," confirmed the company's general manager Naresh Sharma.
He said it can take up to seven days to repair the damage done to the network, which has a negative impact on telephone services.
Indeed, a recent theft of copper cables resulted in the cutting off of around 800 telephones and it may be a week before services are resumed.
BSNL is now urging its customers to be on the lookout for the cable thieves. It has informed them via text message that it does not carry out any cabling work at night and has asked them to contact the police if they see any nocturnal activity.
Formed in October 2000, BSNL, or Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, claims to be the seventh largest telecommunications company in the world.
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Last Updated: 28/08/2008 17:03
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