40 Lakh mobile phones start ringing in Kashmir

After being silent for almost 70 days, over 40 Lakh postpaid mobile phones have once again started ringing in Kashmir from October 14 onwards after government decided to restore mobile phone connectivity in valley.

Days after Jammu and Kashmir government revoked Home Ministry visory issued on August 2 asking tourists to leave Kashmir valley, government issued orders that all postpaid mobile phones across Kashmir valley will be restored from Monday. decision to restore mobile connectivity was also taken following government’s decision to release political detainees across state in a phased manner.

“re are around 40 Lakh postpaid mobile connections in valley and all are being restored from today, BSNL has been restored and in next few minutes or service providers will also be restored,” a senior functionary of Jammu and Kashmir government said.

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decision to suspend mobile phone connectivity in valley was taken after parliament decided to revoke discriminatory Article 370 and 35A from constitution. “In order to ensure peace in valley and to make sure re was no law and order problem in valley, this decision (to suspend mobile phone connectivity) was taken,” officer said.

Jammu and Kashmir Government announced on Saturday that all post-paid mobile phones in Kashmir province would be restored from October 14 (Monday), 2019 from 12 noon. “ mobile phones have alrey started ringing in Kashmir valley,” a senior police officer said.

On October 12, Rohit Kansal Principal Secretary Planning, Monitoring, and Development, who is also spokesperson of government h said that after reviewing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, a decision was taken to restore mobile phone facilities in all remaining areas of Jammu and Kashmir.  “More specifically, all post-paid mobile phones, irrespective of telecom service provider, will stand restored and be functional from 12 noon on Monday, 14 October 2019. This will cover all 10 districts of Kashmir province,” Kansal h said.

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He said that with this step, tourists will be able to visit state without being handicapped by lack of phone connectivity; students can be in touch with parents while attending schools, businessmen can be in touch with customers, transporters can contact clients, and contractors can be in touch with staff. 

He said Government was urging businessmen, industrialists, trers, transporters, shopkeepers, hoteliers and contractors not to be frightened by terrorist threats and separatists and go about ir normal activities.  “ government is firm in its resolve that attempts of se disruptive elements will be foiled. Government thanks people of Jammu & Kashmir for being cooperative and helping in maintaining peace and public order,” he said. 

Explaining reasons behind restrictions imposed in light of important constitutional changes that were me in relation to Jammu and Kashmir on August 2019, he said that a number of restrictions were imposed from 4 August 2019 in order to prevent externally aided terrorists from disturbing peace and inflicting casualties on innocent citizens.

He said that it is now a well-established fact that re have been sustained attempts from across border, both in past and more so in last two months, to promote militancy and terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir in order to create a sense of fear and terror among people and keep place in a disturbing condition.  restoration of mobile phone connectivity in valley has come as a snub to those who used international media to portray that Kashmir was under lockdown.

“Kashmir has never been under lockdown, se were reasonable restrictions that were put in place, earlier phone booths were me available at various places, n landlines were restored across valley, air and land connectivity were always open and now mobile phones have also started ringing. Lockdown was myth propaganda created by anti-India lobby” a senior police officer told Republic.

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