17 months on, 4G mobile net services back in J&K

WHILE THE ORDER DID NOT SPECIFY A TIMELINE, OFFICIALS SAID SERVICES COULD BE RESTORED BY MIDNIGHT FRIDAY

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Friday issued an order allowing the restoration of high-speed mobile internet services in the region, a move that came more than 17 months after 4G facilities were snapped ahead of the Centre’s controversial decision to withdraw the erstwhile state’s special status.

The order by Shaleen Kabra, principal secretary (home), directed inspectors general of police in Jammu and Kashmir divisions to ensure compliance and “closely monitor the impact of lifting of restrictions”. Though the two-page order did not specify any time line, officials who did not want to be named said services could be restored as early as midnight Friday.

The order added that highspeed internet facility on prepaid SIM card holders would be provided “only after verification as per the norms applicable for post-paid connections”.

On the Raj Bhavan’s Twitter account, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah for “acceding to our request”, and said the move will “fulfil the aspirations of the people...”

The news broke earlier in the evening, cheering residents of the Union Territory (UT).

Authorities suspended 4G mobile internet services on August 4, 2019, a day before the Centre nullified Article 370 and bifurcated J&K into two UTs. The government had also suspended landline and internet services, fearing widespread protests in the restive region.