Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): 2G mobile internet will be partially restored in the Valley tonight, except for Pulwama and Shopian in south Kashmir, J&K police said today.
A senior J&K police official told NVI that internet services (2G) will be restored partially in Kashmir at around 10 PM tonight, after a gap of five days.
Internet and mobile phone services (SMS+voice calling) were suspended last Wednesday when an operation to nab Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo was launched in Beighpora in Pulwama. Naikoo was killed along with his aide in the ensuing encounter with security forces on the same day.
Following his death, authorities had forced a massive communication blockade across Kashmir to prevent any law and order situation.
4G internet services are suspended since August 5 last year, following the revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir. The Central Government scrapped Article 370 in August last year, ending special provisions accorded to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcating it into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today asked Centre to set up a committee to look into the demands for restoration of 4G in Jammu and Kashmir while seeking to strike a balance between national security interests and the needs of common people in the Union Territory.
The Apex court was hearing a bunch of petitions demanding restoration of 4G internet services in J&K. The pleas have claimed that the 2G internet services being provided in Jammu and Kashmir are not sufficient.
