Villagers in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathodli village tied a Reliance Jio technician to a tower iron frame for nearly two hours following persistent mobile network outages, according to local police and reports from The Hindu. The September 10 incident, which sparked widespread online attention, ended when emergency responders arrived at the scene and arrested six individuals in connection with the restraint.
Hathodli Villagers Restrict Technician Over Two-Year Network Outage
The confrontation began on the evening of September 10 when Reliance Jio technician Adityabhan Singh arrived at Hathodli village in the Fatehpur district. According to police reports, his assignment was strictly to inspect the power supply of the local mobile tower. However, residents confronted him over what they described as a two-year period of severe connectivity issues. Villagers stated that poor signals routinely disrupted voice calls, mobile data access, digital payment transactions, and online education programs. When the technician appeared, tensions boiled over into a heated argument, leading residents to tie him to the iron framework of the tower with ropes. They demanded that senior telecommunications executives visit the site personally to resolve the network failures before freeing him.
Police Intervention and Arrests Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Local law enforcement intervened after receiving a call on the 112 emergency hotline. According to Bindki police officer Shailesh Singh, officers quickly traveled to the location, rescued the trapped worker, and brought him back to the police station. Fatehpur Superintendent of Police Abhimanyu Manglik confirmed to media outlets that authorities registered a formal case based on a complaint filed by the technician. Police subsequently arrested six local residents involved in the incident: Rahul Patel, 28; Suraj Yadav, 21; Alok Patel, 29; Yogendra Patel, 36; Alok Yadav, 31; and Sachin Patel, 30. The legal proceedings are active under Section 127(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
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According to follow-up reports, the technician privately suggested that tying him up served as a deliberate tactic to force corporate management to acknowledge the village’s severe infrastructure problems and dispatch a dedicated repair crew.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did villagers tie the Reliance Jio technician to the tower?
According to local police reports, residents were frustrated by two years of poor mobile network coverage that impacted internet access, phone calls, and digital payments in Hathodli village.
What charges do the arrested villagers face?
Police arrested six local men under Section 127(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita following a formal complaint filed by the technician.
How long was the technician detained at the site?
The worker remained tied to the iron structure of the mobile tower for nearly two hours until emergency responders arrived.
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