In this hamlet, mobiles can break bones
  'What is 2G, 3G, 4G? Can’t make a call Jee'

Srinagar: Imagine a situation wherein in order to make a phone call you have to either tie or hang your mobile on rooftop. Isn’t it strange, but in one of the small village of Uri area it still a daily practice.

For people of Muqaam Peeran, a small hamlet of Boniyar town searching for mobile network is not only difficult but sometimes dangerous too. Many locals fractured their arms and legs and even broke their mobile phones after falling from windows while searching for network.

With coming of internet the whole world has become a global village, and the people of this hamlet too want to join the community but bad network shatters their dreams.

For them Facebook, Whatsapp and other social networking and chatting sites are alien and is a new world altogether for them. They say they too want to be on Facebook, know the outside world but they can’t. “Some of our native residents are on social networking sites, I am also there, but for that we have to travel some 20 Kms to browse the internet. The lack of proper network disconnects us from virtual world,” says Rafi Ahmad, a local teacher.

“Bhai for you it may sound strange, but here people don’t know what is Gmail, Email, Skype, Whatsapp, we chat and blah blah. I know because I use to work in Baramulla and Srinagar. Here medium of entertainment is TV or radio,” says Manzoor Ahmad o local.

But using mobile phones in any corner of home or even in their yards are still a distant dream. “First we use to walk kilometres to make a phone call, now at least it has reached our rooftops. But find a single tower sitting at any corner of our home is not possible,” says Shafqat Ahmad, a local resident.

Though the hamlet is surrounded by beautiful mountains and forests but here locals don’t have access to post the beautiful pictures on Facebook and count the likes and comments. The pine trees, snow clad mountains and huge rocks are the main attraction of this hamlet but get unnoticed.While rest of the Valley is moving towards the 4G world, the locals here don’t want any ‘G’ but only a mobile tower. “I don’t know what Gs you are talking about. We want one mobile tower here. So that we can make a proper phone call to our relative’s friends,” says Zahoor Ahmad. written by Mubashir Bukhari