Srinagar:
The government has withdrawn its controversial ban on pre-paid SIM cards in Jammu and Kashmir. The government has worked out a new system with telecom operators for verifying the details of who's buying these cards. There will be strict new criteria in place for buying pre-paid connections, say Home Ministry sources. (Read: Procedure for SIM verification in J&K)
When he announced the ban in November last year, Home Minister P Chidambaram said pre-paid mobile connections were a security hazard for the state. Vendors selling pre-paid SIM cards were not collecting the required information from consumers. Terrorists were using these connections, he said. There was plenty of evidence to show that militants were using pre-paid SIM cards both to plan attacks, and to actually trigger explosions.
Critics of the ban pointed out that it left nearly 40 lakh people in the state without mobile connections. Thousands of people protested in the streets against the government's decision.
"We appreciate whoever has taken this step. We have got our jobs back. 20,000 people had lost their livelihood'' says Bashir Ahmad Dar, who sells pre-paid SIM cards.
Only 6 lakh people in Kashmir use fixed-contract or post-paid mobile connections because they're more expensive than pre-paid SIM cards.
Home Ministry sources say that after three months, the government will review the new process agreed to by telecom operators for collecting vital information about anyone buying a pre-paid SIM card.
When he announced the ban in November last year, Home Minister P Chidambaram said pre-paid mobile connections were a security hazard for the state. Vendors selling pre-paid SIM cards were not collecting the required information from consumers. Terrorists were using these connections, he said. There was plenty of evidence to show that militants were using pre-paid SIM cards both to plan attacks, and to actually trigger explosions.
Critics of the ban pointed out that it left nearly 40 lakh people in the state without mobile connections. Thousands of people protested in the streets against the government's decision.
"We appreciate whoever has taken this step. We have got our jobs back. 20,000 people had lost their livelihood'' says Bashir Ahmad Dar, who sells pre-paid SIM cards.
Only 6 lakh people in Kashmir use fixed-contract or post-paid mobile connections because they're more expensive than pre-paid SIM cards.
Home Ministry sources say that after three months, the government will review the new process agreed to by telecom operators for collecting vital information about anyone buying a pre-paid SIM card.
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