Authorities seek technical balance between prison security and local connectivity
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday said technical measures are underway to curb mobile-network disruption reported by residents, businesses and institutions in the vicinity of Mangaluru District Prison. The government characterised the problem as one of calibration rather than a policy decision to remove jammers entirely.
In a post on X, Mr Kharge said a joint technical survey had been carried out and the agency concerned had adjusted the antenna configuration and jamming strength to contain interference. He added that authorities were continuing to work with telecom service providers on further measures to ensure the jammers maintain their security function inside the prison while reducing disruption in surrounding areas.
“A joint technical survey was carried out, after which the agency concerned adjusted the antenna configuration and jamming strength to contain the interference,” the Home Minister said in his post on X.
Residents and businesses in neighbourhoods within a reported radius of 1–3 km of the jail have lodged repeated complaints about dropped calls, failed UPI transactions and intermittent internet access. According to the reporting, the problem worsened after jammers were upgraded to counter 5G-capable phones.
- Technical response: joint survey, antenna adjustments, reduction in jamming strength where possible.
- Ongoing work: coordination with telecom service providers to fine-tune measures and limit spillover effects.
- Local impact: reported call drops, UPI failures and internet outages affecting residents, businesses and the nearby district court complex.
The jammers are operated to prevent unauthorised communication from within the prison compound; however, neighbouring users and institutions have long raised concerns. The reporting notes that earlier this year local BJP workers, led by a party MLA, entered the prison premises to demand deactivation of the devices, and the Mangalore Bar Association moved the Karnataka High Court over interference affecting the nearby district court complex.
| Issue | Reported effect | Action taken |
|---|---|---|
| Signal jammers at Mangaluru District Prison | Dropped calls, failed UPI transactions, lost internet within 1–3 km | Joint technical survey; antenna and jamming-strength adjustments; coordination with telcos |
| Upgraded jammers for 5G phones | Increased radius of interference; renewed public complaints | Calibrations to contain interference; further measures planned with service providers |
State authorities described the matter as a technical calibration challenge: maintaining the operational integrity of jammers for prison security while reducing spillover interference that affects civilian services. The Home Minister’s statement frames the response as collaborative — involving the agency that oversees jamming equipment and the telecom operators whose networks are affected.
For Mangaluru residents and traders, the disruptions carried practical consequences beyond convenience. Erratic mobile connectivity and failed UPI transactions can hamper commerce, delay court filings and impede emergency communications. The move to recalibrate antennas and jamming strength aims to narrow the zone of interference while retaining security controls inside the prison compound.
Authorities have not signalled any immediate plan to remove the jammers. Instead, the focus remains on technical fixes and ongoing engagement with service providers to minimise inconvenience for the city’s citizens without compromising custodial security requirements.
Further updates are expected as telecom companies and the agencies in charge of the jamming equipment complete additional technical adjustments and monitoring in the affected neighbourhoods.
