Internet services were fully restored today in Jammu and Kashmir this morning at 10 AM.
Internet services were fully restored today in Jammu and Kashmir, three days after the government terminated data services fearing trouble during the festival of Eid-ul-Azha.
Though landline broadband services resumed at 8 PM yesterday, mobile data services were restored at 10 AM this morning.
"The ban on Internet has been revoked in the state and all service providers have been asked to resume their data services," a police officer said.
Earlier on Friday morning, the Internet services were snapped in the state as the state government apprehended misuse by anti-social elements. The ban was to remain effective till 10 PM on Saturday, but was extended later.
The precaution was taken because of apprehension of communal tension in the backdrop of the High Court directive for implementation of an old law that bans slaughter and selling of beef. This was aimed at thwarting any design of elements to post pictures or videos on social media that may spark communal tension.
The police had warned "mischievous elements" of legal action against misuse of the services like SMS and WhatsApp.
"Misuse of mobile phone SMS and Internet messaging service to spread malicious rumours with an intention to stoke communal tension and violent activity constitutes commission of offences under the various provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prev) Act 1967, the Information Technology Act and Ranbir Penal Code... Anyone who forwards such messages (including audio, photos or videos) to other individuals or groups shall be liable for legal action under law," police had said.
The government's move was widely criticised by opposition parties.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said, "The irony of listening to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi lecturing about connected digital India while we are totally disconnected... The PDP-BJP regime is pushing people of the state to the wall."