Restrictions lifted in over 99% areas of J&K: Govt
STEP BY STEP Says from Monday noon, all postpaid mobile services will be functional
SRINAGAR: Movement restrictions had been lifted in “over 99 per cent” areas of J&K, and mobile services will be restored from Monday. Addressing media, government spokesperson and principal secretary Rohit Kansal said here on Saturday, “Barring eight to ten police stations, movement restrictions have been completely removed. Over 99 per cent of the areas of J&K have no movement restrictions,” he said.
Kansal added that mobile phone services will be restored from the coming week. “Mobile phone services would be restored in the remaining areas of J&K. All postpaid mobile services, irrespective of the telecom operator, will be functional from 12 noon, Monday, October 14, 2019. This will cover all ten districts of Kashmir province,” he said.
Mobile and landline connections were suspended on August 5, in view of security concerns following Centre’s decision to abrogate Article 370 pertaining to the special status of the then state of J&K.
While landline network was restored in phases, Kansal said, “Mobile services were also restored in Jammu, Ladakh and subsequently in Kupwara.”
On the detention of political
FOR THE 69TH DAY ON SATURDAY, MARKETS REMAINED SHUT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT STAYED OFF THE ROADS
leaders, he said, “If there have been arrests, there have been releases as well. It is a dynamic process and cases are being reviewed.”
Normal
life
i n Kashmir remained affected for the 69th consecutive day on Saturday as main markets continued to be shut and public transport stayed off the roads. Students also continued to stay away from schools and colleges, officials said.
Meanwhile, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the government’s move on the abrogation of Article 370 would pave the way for development of the region. Speaking in Mumbai on Saturday, Naqvi praised the Modi government for ‘breaking the back’ of terrorism. “The separatists and terrorists had turned Kashmir, which was once called the ‘heaven on earth’ into ‘hell of terror’ by using Article 370 as a shield,” he was quoted as saying.
While campaigning for the Shiv Sena candidate, the minority affairs minister said some “satta ke thekedaar” (contractors of power) had, over the past seven decades, portrayed Article 370 as a “Constitutional compulsion” though it was a “temporary arrangement”.