Mubashir Bukhari
Srinagar (NVI): After lifting the ban on social media, Jammu and Kashmir administration today restored broadband internet services in the Valley.
Centre had suspended internet in the region following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year.
On March 4, the Jammu and Kashmir administration decided to lift the ban imposed in the Union Territory on social media sites.
The government has already allowed access to all sites on 2G mobile data services and fixed-line internet in the Union Territory till March 17.
Earlier, access to white-listed sites was allowed only after the services were restored for a week on January 25 and subsequently extended from time to time. Close to 1,600 websites (mostly related to education, banking, business and government) were allowed to be accessed in J&K.
The internet facility was snapped across J&K on August 5 last year, the day when Centre abrogated the special status to the erstwhile state and bifurcated it into two union territories– Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The fresh order was issued by Principal Secretary, Home, Shaleen Kabra after assessment of the impact of telecom services regulation on the overall security situation and maintenance of public order and reports of law enforcement agencies.
The order will be applicable only till March 17.