Cyber cafes exploiting status quo, overcharge customers

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 22

With an ongoing mobile Internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir for the past more than four months, cyber cafes here have been minting money by charging customers as per their own sweet will.

A number of people have been visiting the cafes here and in other parts of the region, as there is no means to access mobile Internet in the newly-formed Union Territory. Mainly, students are seen in hordes, as they are worried about their exam schedule and are on the lookout for competitive exams and job opportunities.

“This is the longest-ever curb on mobile Internet and we are left with no other option but to hit cyber cafes. Getting broadband these days has become a chore and the cafes have also started charging at a higher rate by 200 per cent,” said Sahil Gupta, a resident of Janipur. “Earlier, the cyber cafes would charge Rs10-20 per hour, but after the Internet ban in J&K, they have started charging Rs40-50 per hour,” he said.

The cyber cafes are also offering wi-fi services to mobile users at a cost of Rs100 per hour.

“We are getting a good business after August 5, as broadband is the only option left to access Internet. Our business was on the verge of being closed, but it has somehow been revived for a short term,” said a cyber cafe owner, requesting anonymity.

On being asked the reason behind overcharging the customers, he said: “This is the time when we can earn something, otherwise cyber business is almost finished.”

In the name of cyber security and checking, the cafes only make entries of customer’s name in a register. However, few years back, the administration had taken many steps, including installing CCTV cameras and maintaining a record of customers using Internet services as per the government orders, to curb anti-national activities.

Many have not even installed CCTV cameras in the cafes and others have installed defunct or broken cameras.

According to police officials, no fresh circular has been released in this regard, but the earlier directive is still in place. The police claim they will take action, if they get any complaint from any of the cafes.