Internet, mobile phone services suspended in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar, August 15

Internet and mobile phone services were suspended across the Kashmir Valley as a precautionary measure as part of the security drill on Independence Day on Wednesday, officials said.

The mobile telephony services, including the Internet facility on the hand-held devices, have been suspended across the Valley, the officials said.

Only BSNL landline service and its wired-internet facilities were working, they said.

“All other services across all network operators have been barred,” the officials said.

They said the services were suspended as a precautionary measure.

Barring the services was part of the security drill on the occasion of Independence Day, the officials said, adding that they would be restored once the official functions ended.

The authorities have been clamping down on mobile services on Republic Day and Independence Day in Kashmir. The security agencies added this step to the security drill after terrorists triggered a blast outside Bakshi Stadium during the Independence Day parade in 2005. PTI