Jammu, Dec 06, TEN Network | The government has decided to restore broadband internet service in the Kashmir region after it remained suspended for over four months in the valley following the Centre’s decision to abrogate the special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on August 5 this year.
Sources in the administration told WION that the decision has been taken to restore the broadband internet in a ‘phased manner’, beginning from December itself. “In this month, the broadband internet will be restored but in a phased manner, starting from North Kashmir,” said a source privy to the information.
Earlier this week, the first Lieutenant-Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, G C Murmu, had told reporters at the sidelines of a function in Baramulla that the internet service would be restored in Kashmir in phases, however, he had provided no timeline of the restoration. “We are reviewing things and once it gets more normal (the situation, that is), we will do it phase-wise (the internet). We have already discussed it with the administration and we are taking it up,” Murmu had said.
Both mobile and broadband internet services were snapped on August 4 midnight to mitigate, according to the government, the spread of misinformation in the region. Telecom services, both mobile and landline, were also suspended by the authorities but later resumed once again when the administration found the situation to have become “normal”.
The Union Home Minister of India, Amit Shah, had informed the Rajya Sabha in November that internet will be restored only when the administration in the valley thinks it is fit to do so, citing India’s security, terrorism and people’s security as a reason. (DNA)
