Srinagar, Feb 25 : The 2G internet service in the valley has been extended to next eight days i e March 4, official sources said after a review meeting was held here for examining the current situation and restoration of high speed and broadband internet in union territory under lockdown.
Official sources said a high-level weekly meeting was held here Monday evening. “The weekly meeting held on the direction of the Supreme Court, after reviewing the situation decided to continue the 2G internet mobile service in the valley till March 4,” they said.
The government has identified whitelisted websites which could be assessed by internet users. However, the meeting expressed concern over the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) for assessing social media networks on 2G internet.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir police have recently registered an First Information Report (FIR) over the misuse of social media platforms, citing that the spread of fake news is causing social instability.
Sources said that the latest weekly meeting did not take any decision about the resumption of high speed and broadband internet in the valley. The review meeting is being held every week on the direction of the Supreme Court.
The administration said that stern action would be taken against all those who are using VPN for assessing social media sites.
The Cyber Police Station, Kashmir Zone, has on February 22 registered an FIR against a Facebook user for threatening a police officer. The Facebook user has posted a threatening message against one senior Police officer of J&K Police with the explicit intention to terrorise the general public.
However, people alleged that 2G internet hardly makes any difference as they are still unable to even assess the whitelisted websites due to low speed.
Meanwhile, the highway speed internet and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) broadband remained suspended in Kashmir valley since the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019, badly affecting the students, media persons and professionals, besides traders.
The 2G internet service was restored here after over 170 days, when the Apex Court on 10 January ordered a review on the clampdown on communications and some other constitutional guarantees, upholding the right to communication and the internet as protected under Article 19 of the Constitution.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar recently told UNI that government-run BSNL can restart its broadband services in Kashmir valley if it installs a firewall to stop social media sites, which has been used in the past to instigate violence and spread rumours.
Students and other professionals have repeatedly complained that restoration of 2G mobile service has hardly helped them as they cannot access any website despite repeated attempts.
Comments are closed.