Jammu And Kashmir: SMS, Voice Services Restored For Pre-Paid Mobile SIM Card Users Months After Article 370 Repeal

Srinagar, January 18: The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Saturday announced the restoration of SMS and voice services for pre-paid mobile SIM card users across the state. "After a careful review, the competent authority has ordered today that voice and SMS facilities shall be restored on all local pre-paid SIM cards across Jammu and Kashmir," said Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal. Kashmir: Unemployment on Rise After Article 370 Repeal Due to Internet Shutdown.

The restoration of SMS and voice facilities comes months after the Centre withdrew Jammu and Kashmir's special status, granted under Article 370. Kansal also said that restricted 2G Internet service will be restored on the post-paid SIM cards in Bandipora and Kupwara districts of Kashmir and 10 other districts of Jammu. Internet was suspended all across Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5. Jammu And Kashmir Under Siege: Security Lockdown, Communication Blackout And UT Status Leave Kashmiris With No Autonomy.

The broadband services were, however, restored later in Jammu region. Also, mobile and broadband services were restored in the Ladakh region but in Kashmir, all forms of the Internet continued to remain suspended. Earlier in January, the 2G mobile connectivity was made available on post-paid mobiles for accessing white-listed websites including e-banking in districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi -- all in the Jammu region.

The Supreme Court last week directed a review of all orders suspending internet services in Jammu and Kashmir.  Unprecedented communication blackout was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, when the Centre announced the scrapping of the Constitution's Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 18, 2020 02:28 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).