The tale of the 17-year-old Indian radio pirate

Screen India reports on an unlicensed radio station called Radio Reotipur in Ghazipur district. It’s run by 17-year-old Arun Kant Rai, who broadcasts using a 12-volt battery in his room.

The school student has been meeting the information and entertainment needs of the three villages of Tilwa, Gopalpur and Pakri for about two years now.

His “shortwave” transmitter (no frequency mentioned) is on the air 6 hours a day, and covers a radius of three miles according to the report [suggesting that this is groundwave, or the transmitter is actually on mediumwave]. He wants to increase the range but has no funds. His father is worried that he’s breaking the law, and at one point actually dismantled the transmitter.

But Ghazipur District Magistrate Ritu Maheshwari promises to help him. “Let him come to us. We will definitely help him in all ways, including getting free of cost community radio licence from the government,” says Maheshwari.

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Source: Media Network