Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 29: Notwithstanding the fact that internet subscribers are accessing banned social networking sites and instant messaging applications through Virtual Private Network (VPN) and other proxies, the JIO today resumed 4G internet services after two weeks following widespread student protests.
The cellular company, Jio, today in the afternoon resumed its 4G services after blocking banned social networking sites and instant messaging applications including Facebook and Whats App. However, with the installation of VPN and other proxies, all the banned social media sites and messaging applications are easily accessible and subscribers in Kashmir are accessing them.
This week, in a bid to curb use of social media to incite protests, mobilize protesters and ‘transmitting objectionable contents’, the Government had directed ISPs to block Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, QQ, We Chat, Qzone, Tumbir, Google+, Baidu, Skype, Viber, Line, Snapchat, Pinterest, Telegram, Reddit, Snapfish, You Tube (upload), Vine, Xanga, Buzznet and Flickr.
The Jio became second cellular company after Airtel to restore 4G services internet services in Kashmir. However, other companies including Vodafone and Idea are yet to resume their 3G services as so far they haven’t been able to block the banned social networking sites and messaging applications on Government directions.
The State Government gagged internet in Kashmir following widespread protests by student community across the region in the wake of a raid on Degree College Pulwama in South Kashmir by security forces on April 15. However, despite internet gag, there have been no let up in protests by students of Valley including girls against the State.
In the meantime, despite heavy rainfall, the students of Government Polytechnic College here in Gogji Bagh area of uptown city today staged violent protests against the recent police action on their counterparts. The students also accused security forces of barging into their institution and going berserk.
Dozens of students of the Polytechnic College boycotted their classes and staged protests in solidarity with their counterparts. Police said that the students after coming out of their college pelted stones on security forces. However, the students denied police claim and said that it were the forces who barged into their college premises. “They beat students and one of teachers and also ransacked glasses of scores of vehicles,” the students alleged.
The clashes between students and security forces continued for more than hour during which the situation in the area remained tense. Due to heavy rainfall, the students dispersed later but security forces remained deployed in the area to thwart fresh protests and stone-pelting. Meanwhile, the classwork in two main institutes – Sri Pratap Higher Secondary School and MP Higher Secondary School – remained suspended today here again as a “precautionary measure” on Government instructions.
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