Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday extended ban on the high-speed mobile internet services in on high speed mobile data services across J&K barring twin districts including Ganderbal and Udhampur till January 08.
The internet speed is restricted to 2G only in Jammu and Kashmir except in the districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur.
As per an order issued today, only Udhampur and Ganderbal districts will have no high-speed restrictions, whereas the rest of 18 districts in J&K will have restrictions on high-speed internet services.
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The Home Department’s order reads that high speed internet has to be barred “due to the credible inputs about the presence of a large number of militants who are trying to infiltrate from across the border.
“Where as, there have been incessant efforts by the ANEs 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/ provacative videos , rumour mongering, fake news etc,” reads the order issued by home department.
The directions as per the Home Department shall be effective from today, the 25th December, 2020 and remain in force till 8th Jan, 2021, unless modified earlier.
“Now, therefore, upon assessment of the impact of the restrictions on access to mobile internet, with due deference to the principle of proportionality and due consideration of available alternatives. I Principle secretary to the government , Home Department , being satisfied that, it is absolutely necessary so to do in the interest of the sovereignty and intergrity of India, the security of the state and for maintaining public order, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section [2] of section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and sub rule [1] of the rule 2 of the temporary suspension of Telecom Services Rules 2017 , hereby order that access to the internet shall be made available in the UT of J&K, with the restrictions,” the order reads.
The internet was snapped across J&K on August 5, 2019, when the Central Government abrogated the special Constitutional position of the state. Only low-speed 2G internet was restored on January 25, 2020, the ban on high speed internet continues.
