Mobile phone services back in 5 districts of Jammu

Mobile phone lines have been restored in five districts of Jammu over three weeks after severe restrictions were imposed in Jammu and Kashmir. The services were restored in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts last night, reports NDTV. 

Jammu and Kashmir has been under strict restrictions since the government announced its decision to end its special status and split it into two union territories. 

The government had said that the restrictions will be lifted in phases.

Yesterday, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had announced that mobile phone lines will be reopened in all 10 districts of Jammu (barring one location) and that mobile phones would also be made functional in the entire revenue district of Kupwara and Handwara Police districts in the Kashmir Valley.

The government had already announced the reopening of landline connections in the Kashmir Valley.

Defending restrictions on the use of mobile phones and internet, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik had said yesterday that the curbs were imposed as these facilities were used against the country and mostly exploited by terrorists and Pakistani forces.

"Telephones and Internet connections are of very little use to us. They were being used more by Pakistani forces and terrorists, and that was why we put restrictions on them," Mr Malik said.

"Our attitude is such that there should be no loss of human lives. If there's no telephone for 10 days, so be it. But we will roll back these measures very soon," he had said on Sunday.

He also said that 50,000 vacancies across various government departments will be filled on priority in the coming months.