Selected mobile phones back in IOK, but internet still down

HELD SRINAGAR: Mobile phone networks were restored in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) on Monday after a 72-day blackout, authorities said, but the internet remains off-limits to the region’s seven million-plus people.

India cut access to mobile networks in the restive Kashmir Valley in early August citing security concerns as it scrapped the region´s semi-autonomous status and imposed a lockdown. The easing on Monday covers around four million post-paid mobile phone contracts, but only for calls and text messages. The internet is still unavailable both on cellphone and fixed line networks. Landlines were restored previously, although residents say connections are erratic.

Several hundred Kashmiri politicians, activists, lawyers and others remain in custody, mostly without charge. Several thousand ordinary Kashmiris were also detained, including children as young as nine, with protesters and security forces clashing at regular rallies. Most have since been released. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said last month she was "deeply concerned" while Washington called for the "rapid" lifting of restrictions.

Mohammad Akbar, a businessman, said in the main city Srinagar that he was pleased that mobile phones were working again, but had harsh words for the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Mobile phones are a commercial service that we pay for, not a favour," he said. "They slash our basic rights and then ease things as favours and call it normalcy."

Having mobile phones "is something completely normal in most countries. But here in Kashmir it is a big deal", said law student Mashouq. "And it can be taken away at any time."

India restored some mobile phone services in contested Kashmir on Monday, two months after imposing a communications clampdown on the Himalayan region. “It is a big relief,” said Javed Ahmed, a Kashmiri in the region’s main city of Srinagar. “At least we can get in touch with our loved ones. But the major issue is the internet shutdown.”

The communication restrictions have hit access to healthcare and services and rights groups have been calling for them to be removed. In August, United Nations experts termed the curbs “a form of collective punishment”.

“Patients were not able to report to hospital due to the clampdown,” said a psychiatrist at Srinagar’s Shri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital, who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media. “We hope they will do now. They missed a lot of sessions of counseling.”