Srinagar: The administration of the newly formed Union Territory of Ladakh on Friday resumed mobile Internet services in Kargil district 145 days after the passage of J&K Reorganisation Bill on August 5.
The residents of Kargil welcomed the government’s decision but questioned the four month long Internet ban in this border town, where no untoward incident was reported during this period. The government blocked the Internet services across J&K on August 5, when special status of J&K was withdrawn and the state was downgraded into two Union Territories.
Internet services on broadband and mobile phones continue to remain barred in Kashmir division, while only low-speed broadband Internet services are functional in Jammu division. The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a trade association, said in a report earlier this month that the Valley has suffered business losses worth Rs 17,878 crore since August 5 and thousands were rendered jobless in the period. Officials said that Internet was resumed in Kargil after due deliberations over prevailing situation there, which they termed as normal. “No incident was reported from Kargil and people are still wondering why we were forced into this ordeal for last four months,” Chief Executive Councilor of LAHDC (Kargil) Feroz Ahmad Khan told ET.
He said that the student and business community were the worst sufferers of the Internet ban. “We hope that the government would not impose the ban again,” said Khan. The administration also roped in community leaders in Kargil to ensure that there is no ‘misuse’ of the Internet, especially social media, which government considers as a potent tool for any communication and mobilisation in case of any incident. “The services were resumed for the convenience of the people. And this decision comes under the purview of home department,” Divisional Commissioner of Ladakh Saugat Biswas told ET.
Internet services were already functional in Leh district of the newly formed UT of Ladakh. “I wonder how can any government take the decision of banning Internet and simultaneously promote e-services in almost every sector. I hope we are not made victim of this ban again,” president of Kargil Bar Association, Khadim Rizvi, told ET.
