Youth turn

As mobile internet remains cut off, many adopt ‘ad-hoc means’ to remain connected

network, and before the reporter even knows what’s happening, his phone is happily flashing the Wi-fi symbol.

So, how did the children come upon this novel way of side-stepping the government’s action? The Class 10 student shrugs. “Necessity is the mother of invention. Without an Internet connection, we can’t watch movies, play games or listen to music. We simply had to figure out a way,” he says.

As mobile Internet remains cut off across the Valley, most youngsters without access to personal broadband connections have adopted ‘ad-hoc measures’ to remain connected.

While some have acquired the passwords of Wi-fi networks at business establishments in Srinagar, others have simply hacked into them. This, understandably, has raised the hackles of those who feel that their bandwidth is being stolen.

“Youngsters – even girls at times – park their twowheelers near our house, hack into our Wi-fi and browse on their phones,” says an indignant woman resident of Lal Bazaar area.

A senior teacher at a private school in Srinagar blames such activities on the ongoing curfew in the Valley. “Youngsters have become restless. How many movies or TV shows can one watch? It’s not surprising that children are up to such things… they are looking for ways to channel their energies,” she says.