Imphal, January 03: Don�t ever mistake a cyber caf� with an eating joint where you find Momo plates, samosas or a cup of hot steaming coffee.

Because cafes are those centres where you can avail the facilities provided through Internet on paying a fee for it.

You can e-mail, chat or browse the Internet.

Though introduced only two years back, cyber cafes have craved a niche for themselves in the city.

The capital currently has around 15 cyber cafes which are visited by those who could not afford computer system or Internet connection of their own.

Density-wise, the number is the biggest among the cities in the Northeast.

Internet service in Imphal is being provided by NE Line and National Internet Backbone, NIB to around 650 consumers or ID holders.

Different classes of people visited the cyber cafes for different reasons.

K Romeo who runs one such joint- JBM Compu Network at Paona Bazar said visitors at the caf� are mostly students of both sex.

They hang out at chatting while few occasional elders prefer to e-mail to their kith and kins living outside the state.

He replied in negative when asked whether there is restriction on browsing pornographic websites.

He noted that each computer terminal is kept inside a cabin in order to maintain the privacy of the visitor.

A class XII student, Ruchika Chongtham who was spotted chatting said she uses Internet for entertainment purposes.

On the other hand, another student undergoing research in agriculture said he uses it specially for digging research materials.

Another agri student said he browse pornographic sites when he gets bored chatting and e-mailing.

A staffer of City Cyber Club, Paona Bazar said his customers range from school students to doctors, engineers, professors, lawyers etc.

he also said that using Internet for educational purposes is very rare and a majority of them go for e-mailing and chatting.

The staffer said that no restriction is applied on browsing X-rated sites but maintained that visitors below 18 years are thrown out if they are found visiting such sites.

M Ashwinikumar, proprietor of Starline which was opened under financial assistance of NEDFi told this reporter that he opened the caf� to make the youngsters aware of computer and Internet.

Located at Bir Tikendrajit Market, the Centre has the facilities of Pool (a kind of game), Internet and video games.

He said he is doing brisk business with the visitors mostly students.

Most of the owners and proprietors who were interviewed expressed dissatisfaction over the service provide by NE Line and NIB.

They desire to form a union to streamline charge and also to claim a better services form the ISPs.

Currently the charge varies between Rs 20 to Rs 30 per hour in the cafes.

Despite all the hype Internet has created in the city, the facility is not free from the fear of being misused.

As most of the cafes do not restrict visits to porno sites, there is high chance that young children might be misled by the bug.

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