Jammu and Kashmir government lifts month-long ban on social media in valley

Jammu and Kashmir government has lifted the month-long ban on 22 media sites and applications in Kashmir.

The ban on social media sites was lifted around 8:30 in the evening yesterday, an official said.

Jammu and Kashmir government had ordered suspension of internet services in the trouble-hit valley for a period of one month or till further orders.

In an order, the Home Department had directed all ISP's that "any message or class of messages to or from any persons or class of persons relating to any subject or any pictorial content through the following social networking sites shall not be transmitted in the Kashmir valley for a period of one month or till further orders."

As per the government directive, social networking sites suspendeded included Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, QQ, WeChat, Ozone, Tumblr, Google+, Baidu, Skype, Viber, Line, Snapchat, Pinterest, Telegram, Reditt, Snapfish, YouTube (Upload), Vine, Xanga and Flickr.

The state home department invoked powers conferred on it under Indian Telegraph Act and Information Technology Act to suspend the internet services, the officials said.

WHY WERE THE SERVICES SNAPPED

The mobile internet services in Kashmir were snapped following widespread student protests in the valley against alleged highhandedness of security forces.

The government had said that the continued misuse of social networking sites and instant messaging services are likely to be detrimental to the interests of peace and tranquility in the state.

The move was criticised by a lot of people who said that this is a blatant act by the government to block communication.

3G and 4G mobile internet service were also suspended earlier when widespread students' protests rocked the Valley after the Pulwama government college assault by forces in which 54 students were injured.

On April 9, the internet was suspended when by-polls were held for Srinagar parliament seat, and on April 13 when re-polls were held in 38 polling stations where no voting could be held due to protests and killings of 8 civilians in Budgam and Ganderbal districts.

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