The Indian government has installed jamming devices in parliament to deactivate mobile telephones following frequent disruption of parliamentary proceedings by electronic beeps.

A government spokesman said the decision had been taken after members repeatedly ignored requests not to use portable phones in parliament.

The deactivator generates a strong interfering frequency which cuts the phone off from its base station.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Pramod Mahajan, told journalists the device would not interfere with microphones or closed-circuit cameras. (from BBC)