Internet services in Kashmir snapped to prevent rumours on separatist Geelani’s health

Mobile internet services were shut again in Kashmir to prevent spe of rumours about health of separatist leer Syed Ali Shah Geelani, officials said on Thursday. internet in valley was shut once agains on Wednesday late night after a few social media posts came to light, claiming poor health of 90-year-old Hurriyat leer. 

However, Geelani's family said that while separatist was ill for sometime, his condition has improved w. equate security forces have reportedly been deployed at vulnerable places in Kashmir to maintain law and order and prevent miscreants from fomenting any trouble.

Kashmir internet

Mobile internet services in Kashmir valley was again snapped on Monday as a precautionary measure as separatist groups called for a protest on death anniversary of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front founder Maqbool Bhat. Authorities h on Sunday also snapped services as a precautionary measure to prevent any law and order disturbance on seventh death anniversary of Afzal Guru.

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Restrictions have been put on communication links since August 5. se were subsequently eased. Internet is functional at a few places through leased lines. Mobile internet facility has been me functional but with a speed of 2G with special instructions that it would t be used to access social media sites.

 Kashmir Press Club on Monday said security ncies were resorting to threats and intimidation of journalists working in valley.  press club held a meeting on Monday where member associations expressed concern that ever since Article 370 was repealed, government was t enabling journalists and media to operate freely from valley.

"This is evident from prolonged six-month internet shutdown in region since August 5. As if that was t eugh, physical attacks, threats and summons to journalists are being employed by security ncies to intimidate journalists," Kashmir Press Club (KPC) said in a statement after meeting. It said harassment of journalists by police's counter-insurgency centre in Srinagar has become a "routine exercise"." harassment and questioning of journalists in Kashmir on flimsy grounds by   J&K Police for ir work is in fact a damning verdict on appalling condition in which media is operating," it ded. 

press club said restrictions on internet and forcibly seeking undertakings from news organisations for allowing limited internet access, constant surveillance by police and physical attacks and summons-- are tools designed and aimed to ensure only government-promoted version is heard outside.

(with PTI inputs) 

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