Finally, mobiles to ring in Kashmir from Monday

Tribune News Service
Srinagar, October 12

All post-paid mobile phones, barring Internet facilities, would start ringing across Kashmir from Monday, 71 days after restrictions and communication blockades were imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state on August 5.

The Tribune was first to break the story on mobile restoration on October 9.

The decision was announced by Rohit Kansal, Principal Secretary to the Jammu and Kashmir Government and its spokesperson, two days after the travel advisory to tourists was lifted, which had been imposed before the Centre made constitutional changes.

Kansal said landline phones had been fully restored and functional for over six weeks. However, he evaded queries about the decision on restoring Internet facilities on mobiles and landlines, which continue to be suspended in view of the situation post abrogation of Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

“Having reviewed the situation, a decision has been taken to restore mobile phone facilities in all areas of Jammu and Kashmir,” Kansal stated. “All post-paid mobile phones, irrespective of the telecom service provider, will stand restored and be functional from 12 noon on Monday, October 14, 2019. This will cover all 10 districts of Kashmir province,” the spokesperson added. He said this would help tourists, students, businessmen, transporters and contractors.

Kansal said since August 16, there had been a gradual removal of the restrictions, most of which were removed by the first week of September, he said and added that over 99 per cent of the areas of J&K had no restrictions. Telephone landlines had been fully restored during the past six weeks. Mobile phones facilities were restored in the Jammu and Ladakh regions and subsequently in Kupwara district.

Stating that certain restrictions were imposed since August 4 to “prevent externally aided terrorists from disturbing peace and inflicting casualties on innocent citizens”, Kansal said it had been established that there were sustained attempts from across the border to “create a sense of fear and terror”.

He added that there were continued attempts from across the border to disturb normal life in the state. “Banned organisations Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen continue to make attempts to terrorise the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.