SRINAGAR – Internet services across all platforms continued to be suspended in Kashmir for the 101st day on Wednesday following the abrogation of certain provisions of Article 370 and normal life remained disrupted due to the ongoing unannounced shutdown, officials said.
They said despite growing demands for restoration of the internet services, especially from the journalistic community, there is no word from the authorities on it.
Mediapersons had held a protest march on Tuesday, demanding immediate resumption of internet facilities.
All communication lines — landline and mobile phone services and internet services — have remained suspended since August 5, when the Centre revoked the special status accorded to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and announced the decision to bifurcate it into two Union territories.
While landline and postpaid mobile phone services have been restored in the Kashmir Valley, prepaid mobile phone and internet services remain suspended.
The officials said there are apprehensions that vested interests might misuse the internet services to create a law and order situation in the valley and a decision to restore these facilities would be taken at an appropriate time after assessing the situation.
The Centre’s August 5 decision led to an unannounced shutdown in the valley due to which normal life in the valley has remained disrupted.
The markets across the valley have been following a new pattern of functioning, opening early morning till around the noon and then closing to join the protest against abrogation of the special status of the state, the officials said.
This was also seen on Wednesday, they said.
Most of the top-level and second-rung separatist politicians have been taken into preventive custody while mainstream leaders, including two former chief ministers — Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, have been either detained or placed under house arrest.
The government has detained former chief minister and sitting Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Farooq Abdullah under the controversial Public Safety Act, a law enacted by his father and National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1978 when he was the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
