Mobile telephony services, fixed line internet restored in Kashmir
Restrictions continued for the second day
Srinagar: Mobile telephony services and fixed line Internet across all telecom service providers was restored in Kashmir valley at 10 pm on Friday.
Mobile services, except on BSNL’s postpaid, were snapped across the Valley on Wednesday night as a precautionary measure in the wake of death of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Mobile Internet and Internet on fixed lines, except for BSNL’s Broadband and Bharat Fiber were also barred.
“So far, situation remained peaceful and under control. Thanks for public’s cooperation in maintaining law and order. Mobile service (voice call) and broadband of all TSPs shall open from today evening at 10pm,” the IGP said in a tweet on Kashmir Zone Police’s handle earlier in the evening.
“People are yet again requested not to pay any heed to the rumours being maliciously spread by the anti-national elements especially across the border with an objective to disturb the prevalent peaceful atmosphere in the valley,” police said in a statement.
Meanwhile, restrictions continued to be in force across the Kashmir Valley for the second day on Friday as a “precautionary measure” following the death of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.
Restrictions on the movement and assembly of people remained in force across the Valley, officials said.
They said the curbs were intensified in downtown (old city) and some uptown parts of the city here in view of the Friday congregational prayers.
While the roads leading to Geelani’s residence in the Hyderpora locality here remained sealed, barricades were put up in other areas to stop the movement of people.
Security forces remained deployed in strength in the city and elsewhere to maintain law and order, the officials said.
Mobile phone services except for the postpaid connections of BSNL continued to remain snapped, while mobile internet services also remained suspended. Though internet services are working on fixed lines, but the network speed has been throttled.
The officials said a review of the situation will be done after the congregational prayers and a decision will be taken on whether to lift the restrictions or not.
Meanwhile, in the backdrop of death of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the Friday congregational prayers could not be held in major mosques and shrines across Kashmir.
The news agency KNO reported that congregational prayers were not allowed in major mosques including Jama Masjid, Hazratbal and other major shrines at Srinagar. However, the congregational prayers were allowed in the local mosques in different localities.
Meanwhile, a police spokesperson said that IGP Kashmir, Kashmir Vijay Kumar appreciated the cooperation of the public in maintaining the peaceful situation throughout Kashmir, “which defeated the ill designs of the inimical elements who are hell-bent on disturbing the otherwise peaceful atmosphere in the valley”.
