Restrictions have been eased and over 50,000 landline phone connections have been restored in parts of the Kashmir Valley on Saturday, nearly two weeks after severe restrictions were imposed in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the government’s big move to end the special status to the state. The Jammu and Kashmir police said the prohibitory orders, banning large gatherings, have been relaxed in parts of the valley for the time being. However, heavy security continues to be in place.
In Jammu region, mobile internet connections were restored in five districts. Jammu and Kashmir have been under an unprecedented security cover and prohibitory orders banning large gatherings since August 4 – a day before the government announced that it was ending special status for the state and said it will bifurcate it into two union territories. Earlier in view of security concerns in the region, mobile internet services were suspended in Jammu on August 5.
Out of a little over 100 telephone exchanges, seventeen were made operational which are mainly in Civil Lines, Cantonment and the airport area of Srinagar district. Landline services have been restored in Budgam, Sonamarg and Manigam areas of central Kashmir. In north Kashmir, the services have been restored in Gurez, Tangmarg, Uri Keran Karnah, and Tangdhar areas. In south Kashmir, the landline services have been made operational in Qazigund and Pahalgam areas.
2G mobile internet services were also restored in Jammu, Reasi, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts of the region, earlier on Saturday morning.
As per the officials, the security forces continued to remain deployed, while barricades remained on the roads, while people were allowed to move after checking their credentials.
Meanwhile, some shops in the civil lines areas of the city opened on Saturday morning. However, most of the business establishments, including fuel stations remained shut, according to the officials.
Earlier on Friday, the government decided to lift restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir, in a phased and gradual manner.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam said, “Telecom connectivity will gradually be erased and restored in a phase-wise manner keeping in mind constant threat posed by terrorist’s organizations in using mobile connectivity to organize terror actions. Prevention detentions are being continuously reviewed and an appropriate decision would be made based on law and order situation.”
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