On the first Republic Day after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35-A, the mobile phone services were temporarily snapped in Kashmir as a precautionary measure.
The step was taken to ensure smooth conduct of the official celebrations in Kashmir Valley. While mobile internet services were suspended hours after their restoration on Saturday, mobile phone connectivity was suspended in the early hours of Sunday.
Locals observed shutdown in the Valley. Suspension of mobile phone and internet services on Republic and Independence days has been part of the drill by authorities in the Valley since 2005.
On 5 August, the central government had stripped the region’s semi-autonomous governing status and split the erstwhile state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.