Bhubaneswar, July 30 (IANS) Orissa tapped 417 telephones in the state from October 2006 to December 2008, a lawyer and right to information activist said Friday.

According to the written information provided by the public information officer of the home department, telephones of three people were intercepted from October to December in 2006, Biswapriya Kanungo told IANS.

Kanungo obtained the information from the state government under right to information act Thursday. He informed that 111 and 303 telephones were intercepted in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

According to law, the home department can intercept telephones in situation of public emergency and safety. The officer said the telephones were tapped after approval from the competent authority, he said.

Bhubaneswar, July 30 (IANS) Orissa tapped 417 telephones in the state from October 2006 to December 2008, a lawyer and right to information activist said Friday.

According to the written information provided by the public information officer of the home department, telephones of three people were intercepted from October to December in 2006, Biswapriya Kanungo told IANS.

Kanungo obtained the information from the state government under right to information act Thursday. He informed that 111 and 303 telephones were intercepted in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

According to law, the home department can intercept telephones in situation of public emergency and safety. The officer said the telephones were tapped after approval from the competent authority, he said.