A worker dispatched to repair a cell tower in India was allegedly tied up by villagers expressing frustration over poor 5G connectivity. The technician, identified locally as Aditya Bhan Singh, was bound with cables to a mobile tower in the village of Hardauli, Fatehpur district, Uttar Pradesh.
Police described the incident as a dispute stemming from connectivity issues. The villagers reported experiencing slow signals and unstable 4G service for over two years, despite paying for 5G. According to residents, their repeated complaints about the poor signal and the performance of the private telecom tower had gone unaddressed.
When Mr. Singh arrived to address the connectivity problems, locals confronted him. They tied him to the tower, reportedly hoping this action would draw the attention of higher-ranking officials within the network provider. The villagers allegedly stated they would not release Mr. Singh until company officials visited and resolved the issue. He was later released.
Footage of Mr. Singh being tied to the tower, along with a video demonstrating the poor signal, was shared on social media. The incident was reported to the police after its online circulation.
Five individuals connected to the incident have reportedly been charged with unlawful confinement and disturbing public order. Fatehpur Police Superintendent Abhimanyu Manglik stated that villagers claimed the area had been experiencing substandard mobile connectivity, particularly for 5G services, for nearly two years despite the presence of a private telecom tower.