Srinagar, May 9: Restrictions across Kashmir Valley continued on Saturday even as mobile 2G internet and short messaging services (SMS) remained barred in Kashmir Valley on the fourth day following the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Commander Riyaz Naikoo along with associate in a gunfight on May 6.
High Speed internet remains shut in the Valley since August 5 and the Supreme Court of India earlier this week reserved its orders on three petitions, seeking its restoration.
The centre and the J&K government have opposed the restoration of the 4G services, contending that right to internet access is not a fundamental right and that it may be used for tracking troops.
Reports reaching GNS said that barring minor clashes in Beighpora Awantipora in Pulwama district, the home town of the slain commander, the situation remained normal across the Valley.
Naikoo and his associate Adil Ahmad were killed in an encounter in Beighpora on Wednesday following which authorities snapped mobile telephone and Internet services in the Valley. However, late last night, the authorities restored the telephony services but held back approvals to end the ban on internet and messaging services for both pre and post paid users.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar told reporters here on Thursday that the measure has been taken as a precautionary measure to prevent problems of “law and order”. He said that the services would be restored as and when situation improves and a decision in this regard would be taken a review meeting.
Soon after the news about Naikoo’s killing spread, restrictions were imposed in most parts of the Valley including this summer capital of J&K.
Even though the Kashmir is under the coronavirus lockdown from last 51 days, additional police and paramilitary forces personnel have been deployed in many sensitive and vulnerable areas of the valley for ensuring peace, they said.
One civilian was killed and at least 25 people suffered injuries after government forces alleged resorted to live ammunition and fired pellets to disperse protesters in Awantipora soon after Naikoo’s killing. 16 of the injured were shifted to SMHS hospital in Srinagar and four suffered bullet while 12 others had pellet injuries. (GNS)
