Satellite phones make a debut in this Bengal election

ALIPURDUAR/JALPAIGURI: For the first time in Bengal elections , satellite phones have been handed over to polling personnel for three booths in Alipurduar ’s Buxa, Chunabhati and Adma Hills as they headed to the hilly terrains where they trekked 3.5 kilometres for three hours only to be snapped of all communication with the outside world.

There are 36 booths in the Alipurduar LS constituency that are in mobile shadow zones, where there is essentially no cellphone network coverage . Among them, personnel of three in the Buxa Hills and Adma Hills adjacent to Buxa Tiger Reserve have been given satellite phones while personnel headed to 33 others were handed radio telephones — which are used by forest department officials.

“We were told in advance about our posting at these bo oths and I was also taken for a tour of the booth prior to the election. It’s extremely remote and has no network coverage and we were taught how to use satellite phones,” said Subham Chakraborty, a poll official at Chunabhati booth.

Polling personnel were also given trekking sticks and high-power torch lights.

“I have covered polls in the past but never have I conducted it in such difficult terrains. But we are ready for the challenge,” said Pramit Basumata, a teacher from Ka makhyaguri, who will be the second polling officer at the Buxa booth.

For Buxa Hills, polling personnel had to trek from Zero Point. Earlier, the route was from Santalabari.
Three booths are located in Buxa Hills and Adma Hills at an altitude of 2,800 feet above sea level. 780 people will vote at two booths of Buxa Duar BFP School, while 461 people will vote at Adma Forest Basti Primary School. At Chunabhati, there are 450 more voters.