Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Dec 25: High voter turnout in the recently concluded District Development Council elections in Jammu and Kashmir is the new alibi for Union Territory Government to extend ban on high speed mobile internet services in J&K.
In an expected decision with ironic logic, the UT Government today extended the ban on high speed mobile internet connectivity in all but two districts of Jammu and Kashmir till January 8, 2021, saying that the high voter turnout in recently concluded polls has not gone well with elements inimical to peace.
An order in this regard has been issued by the J&K Home Department, according to which: “The successful conduct of the recently concluded Panchayat elections which witnessed participation by political parties across the spectrum and large scale turnout, has not gone down well with elements inimical to public peace and tranquility as apparent from the multiple incidents of hurling of grenades by the terrorists since the conclusion of the election process, targeting the civilians/ police personnel/security forces and the encounter with the security forces.”
The orders further said that credible inputs have been received about the presence of a large number of terrorists who are try to infiltrate from across the border, as also evident from multiple instances of heavy firing shelling on the IB/ LoC to facilitate the same and the restrictions on high have acted as an impediment to such attempts.
“There have been incessant efforts by the anti-national elements to lure gullible youth to join terrorists’ ranks and the field agencies have underlined the need to continue with suitable restrictions on high speed mobile internet connectivity to curb the unfettered use of social media in uploading/downloading/circulating provocative videos, rumour mongering, fake news etc,” reads the order, adding that upon assessment of the impact of the restrictions on access to mobile internet, Principal Secretary, Home Department, is satisfied that it is absolutely necessary to continue the internet restrictions in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the State and for maintaining public order.
Subsequently, the Government ordered extension in the ban on high speed internet in all except Ganderbal and Udhampur district till January 8.
“The internet speed shall continue to be restricted to 2G, except in the districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur, where mobile internet connectivity shall continue to be made without any speed related restrictions,” read the order adding that the said direction shall be effective from December 26, 2020 and remain in force till January 8, 2021, unless modified earlier.
Even as the Government has been continuously extending ban on high speed mobile internet service in J&K since August 5, 2019, people were hopeful of restoration of 4G service as Lt Governor Manoj Sinha had purportedly hinted for the same.
People even alleged that the Government was un-necessarily extending the ban to benefit some private telecom players, which are expanding their internet network in J&K through optical fiber and getting huge response in absence of high speed mobile internet.
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