Srinagar: Low-speed internet services were shut down by the government in South Kashmir today during the fourth phase of polling of the District Development Council (DDC) elections, reported Outlook.
“The government had valid reasons to shut down the Net. However, he refused to divulge the “valid reasons,” Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, K.K. Sidha was quoted as saying by The Outlook.
According to the senior officials in the Shopian district, the internet was snapped as precautionary measures due to the polling in some areas in the district.
“The government took this step after a due consultation process. The Internet was shut down in Pulwama district also early on Monday,” a senior official told Outlook.
Continuance of 2G mobile internet services was ordered by the J-K administration, citing apprehension about the misuse of high-speed Internet. The administration has cited the DDC polls as an example saying that there are apprehensions of misuse of high-speed Internet to disrupt DDC and Panchayat polls.
However, the 2G service was snapped early Monday morning in the South Kashmir districts, creating problems for students and people. “I got a lot of calls in the morning from different people as the sudden snapping of 2G services created panic leading to lot speculations,” a local journalist told Outlook.
