Cellphone Curbs In Kashmir May Be Relaxed In Phases hindustantimes.com

The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration is considering lifting the mobile telephony blackout in the state in phases and may reactivate voice calls on post-paid connections soon, according to two senior government officials who asked not to be named.

The move will be discussed in a meeting on Saturday when officials are also likely to take a decision on the release of some political leaders. Around 800 people, mostly political activists, are under detention and mobile connections have been disabled over fears of violence since the night of August 4 — hours before the Union government stripped J&K of its special constitutional status.

Security agencies have conveyed that the restoration of mobile phones in a phased manner will not affect the law-and-order situation. “In addition, the government can shut down the network if need be,” one of the officials cited above said. A second official elaborated on the possibility: “Post-paid mobile connections are likely to be restored first, followed by pre-paid connections.”