Jammu And Kashmir: Mobile Phone Services to Resume in All Districts of Jammu Region And Two Districts of Valley

Srinagar, August 28: Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday said mobile phone services will be restored in all districts of the Jammu region, according to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). In Jammu region, mobile phones won't be functioning only at one location, Satya Pal Malik said. In the Kashmir valley, services will resume in Handwara and Kupwara. Article 370 Revoked: Nirmal Singh Removes Jammu And Kashmir Flag From Official Vehicle, Watch Video.

"Mobile phones to open up in all 10 districts of Jammu (barring one location) and to be made functional in the entire revenue district of Kupwara and Handwara Police districts in the Kashmir valley," the MHA spokesperson tweeted quoting Governor Malik. "And soon we will open connectivity in other districts as well," he added.

The Governor also said the medium of phone and internet is used less by the people and more by terrorists and Pakistanis as for mobilisation and indoctrination. "It is a kind of weapon used against us, so we have stopped it. Services will be resumed gradually," he said. "People must be alert of mischievous and motivated rumours being spread to disturb the peace and cause disaffection," he added.

Malik denied reports that said there is a shortage of essential medicines at hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir. Asserting that the Modi government decision to abrogate Article 370 is for the betterment of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he also said the administration was "not hiding" the figures of "deaths" in the Kashmir Valley as no lives have been lost.

"In 2016 agitation over 80 people had died. Every life is precious. Is this not a singular achievement? (the fact that no one has died). It's the result of the government's efforts to maintain peace, and all have worked day-night to ensure that normalcy be gradually restored without causing harm to individuals," he told a press conference.

President Ram Nath Kovind on August 7 signed an order ending the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, a day after Parliament passed the resolution, along with a bill to bifurcate the state into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without a legislature.

The state has been on lockdown since August 4 and all communication services in the region have been blocked, including cellular network, landline, mobile internet, and broadband connectivity.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2019 10:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).