The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday ordered continuance of 2G mobile data services in 18 of the 20 districts of the Union Territory till 26 November citing apprehension about misuse of high-speed Internet to disrupt the district development council and panchayat polls.
Principal Secretary, Home Department, Shaleen Kabra issued an order on Thursday night and said high-speed data services will continue only in Ganderbal and Udhampur districts, while elsewhere Internet speed will be restricted to 2G Internet Speed in Jammu and Kashmir.
Postpaid SIM-card holders shall be provided Internet access. However, the same facility shall not be made available on prepaid SIM cards unless verified according to norms applicable for postpaid connections, the order issued by the home department said in case of 2G Internet Speed in Jammu and Kashmir.
As per the order of 2G Internet Speed in Jammu and Kashmir issued on Thursday, the ban is necessary to prevent terrorist and separatist elements from disrupting the elections for District Development Council Constituencies, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
“During the last fortnight, there have also been targeted killing of the civilians/political activists, that manifest the nefarious design of the terrorists to dissuade general public from participating in the election process. Such unlawful acts heavily rely upon high speed mobile internet connectivity and are required to be thwarted by taking appropriate pre-emptive measures,” the order states.
In view thereof, the Government has directed thus:
The high-speed mobile data services in the districts of Ganderbal and Udhampur shall continue to be made available, while in rest of the districts, the 2G Internet Speed in Jammu and Kashmir will be restricted.
While the post-paid sim card holders shall continue to be provided access to the internet, these services shall not be made available on pre-paid cards unless verified as per the norms applicable for post-paid connections.
Internet connectivity, without any speed related restrictions, shall continue to be made available with Mac-binding.
