Authorities suspend mobile internet in Jammu region

“There were reports that some rumour mongers are busy in spreading provocative news reports that could vitiate the atmosphere. We have snapped only the mobile internet service in Jammu region which could be restored after day or two if situation permits,” said Divisional Commissioner Jammu Pawan Kotwal.

Earlier these services, after having remained suspended for 16 days, were restored in the region on July 26.

Authorities had suspended the services after the eruption of large scale protests in Valley had snapped the service in the region.

Kashmir Valley has been witnessing mobile internet and prepaid phone gag since July 8, the day when local Hizb commander Burhan Wani along with his two associates was killed in a South Kashmir village.

An administrative official from Jammu wishing not to be named said that since past few days, different regions of Chenab Valley have been organizing anti-India protests to show solidarity with the people of Kashmir.

“As a precautionary measure mobile internet service in the region was snapped. The decision was taken in a high level meeting,” he said adding that the decision to revoke the ban on the mobile internet services would be taken after review of the security situation in the region.

The snapping of mobile internet service from Jammu region has not gone down well with the people especially student and business community who shortly after the ban took to social media expressing resentment against the PDP-BJP government.

“We are using swipe machines that are connected through GPRS but after the mobile Internet services were snapped, the business will suffer huge losses as we are not able to use those machines,” said businessman.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)