SHANGLA: Repeated damage to an underground cable of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) in the Borshat Koz Kana area of Tehsil Kana has left residents without basic communication services, raising concerns over the protection of public infrastructure in the district.

Local residents said the government-owned cable has been deliberately cut multiple times, disrupting telephone and internet connectivity in the remote locality. The incident has affected daily communication and access to emergency services, with residents expressing concern over what they describe as a lack of effective response from the district administration, police, and PTCL authorities.

According to residents, the repeated nature of the damage suggests deliberate interference rather than a technical fault. They questioned how an underground cable could be cut repeatedly without detection if monitoring and security mechanisms were in place. The absence of visible enforcement action has added to public concern about accountability.

Residents also pointed to a recent snowfall, during which footprints near the damaged site were visible and could have supported an initial investigation. Despite this, locals said no first information report (FIR) was registered, and no formal inquiry or arrests followed.

PTCL officials have yet to publicly clarify whether additional protective measures will be introduced. Residents said the company has neither converted the underground cable to an overhead line nor provided security to prevent further damage, leaving the area vulnerable to continued service disruptions.

Damaging government property is a criminal offence under the law. Locals said the lack of action has allowed the problem to persist, affecting access to communication services and increasing frustration among residents.

Community members have called on the district administration, law enforcement agencies, and PTCL to take prompt measures to protect critical communication infrastructure and restore reliable services to the area.