Mobile phone services suspended in Kashmir

The authorities on Thursday evening suspended all mobile phone services throughout the Kashmir Valley without any notice. The subscribers of different mobile phone companies suddenly found their services snapped. Authorities said that this has been done to prevent spread of rumours and misinformation by the anti-social elements.

The authorities have also announced that curfew has been imposed in all 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley and it shall remain enforced till further orders. The curfew has been imposed to prevent large scale violence as large Friday prayer congregation are held each Friday.

For the last many months, the valley has been witnessing stone pelting by youth immediately after Friday prayers conclude.

A week ago, the internet in the Kashmir Valley had been suspended over the weekend by authorities. This was done to contain the spread of rumours by anti-social elements, after the killing of Jammu and Kashmir’s most wanted guerrilla Burhan Wani by the security forces.

While the protest still continues, both online and offline, a pro-Kashmir activist Huma Dar has alleged that Facebook has blocked her account . Facebook responded: “Our Community Standards prohibit content that praises or supports terrorists, terrorist organisations or terrorism, and we remove it as soon as we’re made aware of it. We welcome discussion on these subjects but any terrorist content has to be clearly put in a context which condemns these organisations or their violent activities.”

with inputs from IANS