Administration on Thursday restored 100 per cent landline phones in the Kashmir valley after the service was suspended on August 5, when the Centre scrapped Article 370, 35 A and divided the state into two Union Territories.
However, mobile network of all Cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) besides internet remained suspended for the past 32 days in the valley, badly hitting on-line editions of local newspapers, journalists, students and other professionals.
Officials said that 100 per cent landline phones were restored in the Kashmir valley from the wee hours of Thursday.
The communication network was suspended across the Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, on August 5 as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours after the special status of the state was scrapped. Suspension of the communication — landline, mobile and internet — network evoked sharp reaction, particularly from the families whose relatives were outside the valley.
Later, authorities set up facilities in Deputy Commissioners (DCs) offices besides in police station to enable people to contact their relatives outside the valley. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) also set up call centres at several places, including in the down town, to help people to inform their relatives outside about their welfare.
It was in the last week of August, landlines were restored to subscribers connected with Barzulla and Sonawar telephone exchanges. Landlines of subscribers, including all media organizations, from main BSNL telephone exchange, remained suspended. Landlines of local, national and international media houses, including newspapers and news agencies, also remained down since August 5.
However, this morning landlines from all telephone exchanges, including from main exchange, were restored. Majority people in the valley, including Srinagar, had surrendered their landline phones after introduction of mobile network. Long queues people could be seen outside the BSNL offices in Srinagar and other parts of the valley seeking restoration of their landline phone.
The administration has set up a facilitation centre at Sonawar in the city, where journalists are filing their stories to their respective media organisations. However, the journalists had to wait or hours to get their turn since only four systems are working.
The issue of landlines were raised by the journalists during a joint press conference addressed by GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen Dhillon and Additional Director General of police Law and Order Muneer Ahmad Khan on Wednesday. They said mobile phones would also be restored in the valley soon. However, they said the communication network was suspended as it was being misused to spread rumours and incite people.
The suspension of internet, including Broadband service, had badly impacted professionals, students, doctors, journalists and newspapers who could not update their on-line editions sine August 5. Scores of professionals had to migrate to different parts of the country, including Jammu and Delhi. (UNI)
