Srinagar- The Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed 10 internet shutdowns in the year 2023, marking a substantial decrease compared to previous years.
According to data from the internet tracking website ‘Internet Shutdowns,’ the region witnessed 43 incidents of internet blockades in 2022. However, in 2023, the number has significantly decreased to 10.
Most of these internet shutdowns were witnessed in Rajouri, Poonch, and Kishtwar districts of the Jammu region, while the valley experienced internet blockades only on two occasions in parts of Pulwama district in November “to prevent deterioration in public order.”
The region witnessed an increase in internet outages after the revocation of the special status of the former state by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government. The erstwhile state underwent the world’s longest internet shutdown from August 2019 to January 2020 when 2G internet was restored. It took 18 more months for the authorities to reinstate 4G services. The authorities maintained that the restriction on the internet was necessary to “maintain the law and order” in the UT.
According to a study by Surfshark, a virtual private network provider, J&K recorded the highest internet shutdowns in 2022 in a single region in the world. The figures reveal that there were 79 shutdowns in 2021, while 2020 recorded the highest in the last 10 years, with a total of 116 shutdowns in UT.
The internet shutdowns would impact a number of sectors, including trade, tourism, students, doctors, journalists, and other workers.
“It’s really a positive sign. The internet is as important as oxygen. You can’t imagine life without the internet,” said Seerat Mir, a student from Srinagar.
She said that the less internet shutdowns are reflecting efforts towards ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and fostering a conducive environment for growth and communication in the region.
In August this year, mobile internet was suspended in Rajouri following reports of internet services being misused by “anti-national elements/miscreants,” which may cause deterioration in public order.
On December 29, mobile internet services were restored in Poonch after seven days following the killing of three civilians allegedly by the Army in custody.
A top official from J&K administration told Kashmir Observer that mobile internet remained unaffected during Independence Day and Republic day and the authorities will try their best that there will be least internet shutdowns.
“No one likes to shut the internet but it depends on the situation. The internet is being misused by terrorists and miscreants who try their best to spread fake narratives. That’s why sometimes we have to restrict it in particular areas,” he said.
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 | |
