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Restrictions reduced in several parts of Kashmir, more than 50,000 landlines are working

Restrictions reduced in several parts of Kashmir, more than 50,000 landlines are working

| @indiablooms | 17 Aug 2019, 10:53 am

Srinagar, Aug 17 (IBNS): Nearly two weeks since a lockdown was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir before the central government's historic decision to revoke Article 370 that had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, restrictions are being eased as over 50,000 landline phone connections have been restored in parts of the Kashmir Valley on Saturday.

Restrictions have been eased in the valley. Kashmir Police Zone tweeted: "Restriction has been relaxed in the jurisdictions of 35 police stations in #Valley. All districts have made local announcements accordingly. Situation remains peaceful. @JmuKmrPolice."

Department of Information and Public Relations, Govt of Jammu & Kashmir, said primary schools will be opened in Kashmir from Monday.

"Restoration of Communication in Jammu and Kashmir: 17 out of 96 telephone exchanges being made functional today. Half of them will be functioning by today night. Tomorrow barring few, all land line exchanges will function," the department tweeted.

The snapped mobile internet service was restored with 2G speed on Saturday in Jammu district while restrictions have also been lifted in Rajouri district, an official here said.

"The mobile internet service was restored during midnight but with 2G speed," an official said.

He added that the internet has been restored with low bandwidth as preventive measure and to check any type of rumour mongering or objectionable content circulated on social media.

"The decision to suspend mobile internet service was taken by the government only to prevent such elements, who play spoilsport and create tension in the society," he added and said that the service has been restored partially but will soon be restored with high speed.

Mobile internet was snapped on August 4 midnight just hours before the Government of India announced revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories.

The district administrations in all parts of J&K and Ladakh closely monitored the situation on ground and also on social media and anybody found, flaring up the matter or posting unwanted content to disturb peace and harmony was booked under relevant sections.

Meanwhile restrictions have been eased in Rajouri during day time but will remain in force under Section 144 of CrPC between 2100 hours to 0500 hours, said an official.

Reports from other parts of the district said that mobile internet have also been restored barring some areas sensing "trouble" but will be restored there as well after reviewing the situation.

However, netizens started wishing each other on WhatsApp and Facebook as soon as the service was restored as it was like some festival like celebration.

India on Friday assured the world community at the UN that the restrictions in Kashmir are being eased slowly and claimed that no life was lost in the Valley since the revocation of Article 370.

"We acknowledge that restrictions are there but please give us some time to address it. Public order is integral to democracy. There are reasonable restrictions and we are easing them. There is a pace, there is a trajectory. It is the people on the ground who will decide on the removal of restrictions," said Syed Akbaruddin, India's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Soon after the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) closed door meeting on Kashmir, he told a news conference at the UN: "Our national position was and remains that the matters related to Article 370 are entirely an internal matter of India. These have no external ramifications."

He said there was an effort to masquerade national statements by two countries [read Pakistan and China] as the will of international community in respect to the removal of Article 370.

Jammu and Kashmir observed two major events this week.

While the week commenced with the state observing Eid, on Aug 15 the region joined the rest of the nation in celebrating the Independence Day.

The central government withdrew Jammu and Kashmir's special status by scrapping Articles 370 and 35A this month.

The Narendra Modi government also took away the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir with an assembly and Ladakh without an assembly.

Jammu and Kashmir is still under Section 144 which was imposed by the Modi government prior to taking the major step in the valley.

Two former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers- Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti- have been kept under detention. Reports claimed Abdullah and Mufti were allowed to offer prayers.

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