Despite the coronavirus outbreak, the Indian government has extended the ban on high-speed mobile internet in occupied Jammu and Kashmir till 11 May, The Indian Express reported on Monday.
According to a government order, the internet speed will be restricted to 2G only.
2G mobile internet services shall be available to postpaid sim cardholders and only to verified pre-paid sim cardholders, said the order.
“Postpaid SIM cardholders will continue to be provided access to the internet, (such services) won’t be available on prepaid SIM cards unless verified as per norms for postpaid connections. The order is effective from 28 April till 11 May, unless modified earlier,” ANI quoted the Indian government as saying.
According to the order, fixed-line internet connectivity will be available with Mac-binding, effective from 28 April till 11 May.
“Such restrictions have been placed in order to curb uploading, downloading and circulation of provocative videos, guard against rumor-mongering/fake news, prevent the use of encrypted messaging and VOIP services for infiltration and coordinating terror activities,” read the order.
According to News18, the order also referred to a spurt in so-called terrorist activities allegedly supported by Pakistan. “The field agencies have well-founded apprehensions of enhanced effort by Pakistan for recruitment in terrorists’ ranks as well as infiltration attempts, which heavily depend on high-speed internet,” the report quoted the government as saying.
“Whereas the misuse of data services by anti-national elements has the potential to scale up violent activities and disturb public order, which has till now been maintained due to gradual easing of restrictions on access to [the] internet while ensuring the rights and interests of the citizens are not affected adversely,’’ the Indian Express report quoted an official.
The official further added: “…on consideration of overall security scenario and reports of the law enforcing agencies, I am satisfied that there is no alternative but to continue with the speed restrictions in respect of access to [the] internet through mobiles while providing unrestricted fixed-line connectivity, ie, without any speed restrictions’’.
The communication blackout was imposed in held Kashmir on Aug 5 when the Indian government unilaterally abrogated the Article 370 and scrapped the semi-autonomous status granted to the valley through the aforementioned clause.
