Bhubaneswar: The Orissa government on Wednesday said it would soon ban the use of cell phones in college campuses.

"We are planning to ban the use of cell phones in classrooms as well as in colleges. There was a high level meeting on Tuesday in the state secretariat where we decided to impose the ban," state Higher Education Minister Samir Dey told sources on Wednesday.

The government announcement follows various instances of students circulating and selling indecent MMS clips of girls and teachers. According to the police, a student was also murdered on the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar in April because he had MMS clippings of a girl he was in love with him.

On the proposed ban, Dey said: "We are consulting experts, seeking opinions and after that we will issue a notification in the next few days. Besides, instructions will be sent to all colleges."

He added: "Nobody will be allowed to use mobile phones inside the campus. It will be applicable to all students, teachers and outsiders. Anybody found using it will be fined.

"We will come out with the guidelines on the amount of fine to be imposed, and how it will be implemented."

Police said that the MMS racket was flourishing in the state. People distribute or sell indecent MMS clips in the market or send them to different porn sites. Some of them even blackmail the victims.

"Some students and outsiders are using mobile phones to harass women students and teachers," a college principal said. IANS