Poor phone network leaves UP villagers fuming. They tie technician to tower

Police in Bindki, Uttar Pradesh, reported that on Thursday residents of Hardauli village seized telecom technician Aditya Bhan Singh, binding him to a company tower after repeated complaints of poor mobile connectivity. The incident was captured on video, which quickly spread on social media, prompting a rapid response from local law enforcement.

The confrontation occurred in Hardauli, a mixed‑population village located about 30 km from the Fatehpur district headquarters. Authorities said seven men were present at the scene; six were taken into custody on charges of wrongful confinement and breach of peace. Singh, who had joined the telecom firm three months earlier, was on his first visit to the tower, which locals claimed had seen no staff for the previous three months. Residents alleged they were purchasing 5G data packages but were receiving unreliable 4G service, with connections dropping after short periods.

Residents have complained of persistent network outages for the past two years, a situation they say has hampered daily communication and business activities. The police filed an FIR after the video surfaced online, and the district superintendent, Abhimanyu Manglik, indicated that further legal action would be pursued. The episode underscores growing frustrations in rural India over inadequate digital infrastructure and the lengths to which citizens may go to demand service improvements.