SMS Service In Kashmir, Shut For 5 Months, To Be Restored On New Year Day

The centre has decided to restore mobile messaging services in Kashmir from Tuesday midnight, nearly five months since its suspension. Broadband internet services will also be allowed in hospitals across the union territory from the New Year, although curbs on civilian use may remain.
The curbs on internet and mobile messaging services were part of the communications clampdown imposed on Jammu and Kashmir after the scrapping of its special status under Article 370 on August 5. The authorities said it was done to ensure that “trouble-makers” do not succeed in mobilising the people against the administration.

The centre’s decision to ease restrictions in Kashmir were announced by Rohit Kansal, official spokesman of the union territory administration, at a press conference on Tuesday.

Mr Kansal also said that the government has decided to do away with the goods toll charged at the Lakhanpur post under the Jammu and Kashmir Levy of Toll Act Samvat-1995 from the start of the new year. This has been a long-standing demand among truckers in the region, and the All Jammu and Kashmir Transport Welfare Association had even called a strike earlier this year to protest against the toll.

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