Srinagar, August 18: Authorities on Sunday again suspended mobile internet services in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir, a day providing short relief from restrictions. According to reports, 2G mobile internet services have been snapped in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts. It was not clear why low-speed mobile internet services were suspended.

Following the clampdown for 12 days in Jammu and Kashmir over the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two union territories, the state government on Saturday restored 2G mobile internet services in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts. Landline services also resumed in 17 telephone exchanges in the Kashmir valley yesterday.

"Seventeen telephone exchanges have already been made functional and the functionality of most of the exchanges would be restored by tomorrow (Sunday) evening," the state government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said. In Kashmir, Kansal said relaxation have been provided in 35 police stations across the Valley. Jammu And Kashmir: After Revocation of Article 370, Government Plans For Delimitation of Assembly Seats.

On Friday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam announced that phone lines in Kashmir will be restored over the weekend and schools will reopen from Monday (August 19). On Agust 5, the Parliament scrapped the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 and passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act which bifurcates the state into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature, and Ladakh without one.

A day before the major announcement, a clampdown was imposed on Jammu and Kashmir. All communication mediums were blocked. As a precautionary measure, the government also put several political leaders in the Valley, including former Chief Ministers, under house arrest.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 18, 2019 01:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).