Naikoo’s Killing: Mobile Internet, SMS services remain shut across Kashmir

Srinagar, May 9: Restrictions across Kashmir Valley continued on Saturday even as mobile 2G internet and short messaging services (SMS) continued to remain shut in Kashmir Valley on the fourth day following the killing of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Commander Riyaz Naikoo along with an associate in a gunfight on May 6.
High-Speed internet remains shut in the Valley since August 5 and the Supreme Court of India earlier this week reserved its orders on three petitions, seeking its restoration. The government of India as well J&K administration have opposed the restoration of the 4G services.
Reports said that barring minor clashes in Beighpora Awantipora in Pulwama district, the home town of the slain commander, the situation remained normal across the Valley.
Naikoo and his associate Adil Ahmad were killed in an encounter in Beighpora on Wednesday following which authorities snapped mobile telephone and Internet services in the Valley. However, late last night, the authorities restored the telephony barring Pulwama district while as 2G internet and SMS services continued to be blocked.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar told reporters here on Thursday that the measure has been taken as a precautionary measure to prevent problems of “law and order”. He said that the services would be restored as and when situation improves and a decision in this regard would be taken a review meeting.
Soon after the news about Naikoo’s killing spread, restrictions were imposed in most parts of the Valley including this summer capital of J&K.
Even though the Kashmir is under the coronavirus lockdown from last 51 days, additional police and paramilitary forces personnel have been deployed in many sensitive and vulnerable areas of the valley for ensuring peace, they said.