Patna,(BiharTimes): The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is planning to wind up its service in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. The news has come as a big surprise to lakhs of listeners throughout the country, especially in the Hindi heartland.

BBC sources told BiharTimes that the process to terminate its correspondents in Patna, Lucknow, and Hyderabad came after Nidheesh Tyagi took over as the Editor of Hindi Service in January 2013. Before that he was Editor (Digital), Dainik Bhaskar.

The correspondents were asked over telephone to come over to New Delhi as the BBC had decided to close its bureaus in these places. It took the step without announcing the redundancy package or benefit, which is the usual practice of the organization when it shuts any office.

The correspondents expressed their willingness to come over to New Delhi, but on different service condition and pay package as the standard of living in New Delhi is much more than where they have already been posted.

Upon this the Corporation started the process of terminating the service of all these journalists, most of tthem quite senior professionals with about two decades of service with the organization.

A source said that this way of pruning the work force was never a part of the BBC culture. The move has sent a shock wave in the journalistic fraternity as it violates all norms and ethics.

Besides, one fails to understand the reason behind the move as the BBC Radio has still a large following of listeners, especially in the rural interiors, where TV and internet have not reached yet.