Patna, June 27: The state government, in a bid to bolster its operation against the Maoists, has decided to provide satellite phones to police and central paramilitary force personnel deputed in the Naxalite-affected districts.

The sophisticated phone sets would be installed at the offices of the divisional commissioners, district magistrates and the superintendents of police also.

Sources in the home department said the government had approved the proposal for installation of about 85 satellite phones in the Naxalite-affected districts, where the security personnel often complain about poor cellphone connectivity. The government has sanctioned Rs 1.2 crore to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for providing the equipment to the security forces.

According to the proposal, satellite phones would be installed at East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Supaul and Katihar districts.

In addition, 26 satellite phones have been sanctioned for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camps in Jehanabad, Arwal, Rohtas, Kaimur, Patna, Jamui, Banka, Munger, Lakhisarai, East Champaran, Nawada, Gaya and Aurangabad districts. Two sets have been installed.

The phones have also been sanctioned for the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) camps in Sitamarhi, West Champaran, Madhubani, Supaul and Araria districts.

“Satellite phones are critical for the security forces. At times they carry out operations in dense forests and hilly terrains where cellphones do not work,” a senior police officer associated with anti-Naxalite operations in the state said.

He said the Maoists disconnect the base phone lines and blow up mobile towers during attacks on the camps of the security personnel. “The satellite phones are connected with satellites through antennae. Under such circumstances, the rebels cannot take advantage of poor cellphone connectivity,” he said.

The officer said the move of procuring satellite phones is aimed at bolstering the drive against the Maoists operating in Bihar. “Our thrust is to provide latest equipment to the ill-equipped state police force,” he said, adding that the state-run BSNL had been entrusted with the task of installation of satellite phones. The installation of each satellite phone with fax facility would cost about Rs 1.35 lakh. The call charges would be Rs 5 per minute.

“These phones will help the government machinery at the time of flood or any catastrophe,” a senior officer said.

BSNL general manager (development) Rakesh Choubey said the tenders for supplying the equipment have been floated. “We will start the installation work as soon as the consignment of equipment is delivered to us,” he said.

Choubey said the BSNL satellite phones come handy during floods. The government machinery had used satellite phones during the Kosi flood in 2008.

Sources in the BSNL said the SSB had installed satellite phones at its 26 camps along India-Nepal border.