Internet Services in Kashmir to Be Suspended Till 12 April

Women coming out from a polling station after casting their vote for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency in Srinagar on Sunday.(Photo: PTI)

Internet services will remain suspended in the entire Kashmir valley till conclusion of the bypoll for Anantnag Lok Sabha seat on 12 April, official sources said on Sunday in Srinagar.

The decision followed large scale violence during the bypoll for the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on Sunday which claimed the lives of seven people in firing by security forces.

Dozens of civilians were wounded, while over 100 security personnel were also injured in clashes.

Internet services in three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal, which the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency straddles, were shut down last midnight as a precautionary measure to prevent floating of rumours by anti-national elements.

There were reports that Pakistan-based groups were engaged in spreading "disinformation" on the eve of polls, official sources said.

Though the ban was to be lifted immediately after Sunday's polling, the authorities decided to extend it across all districts of the valley till conclusion of the polling in Anantnag.

Also Read: I Want to Make Kashmir a Happy Place: Tassaduq Mufti on Bypolls

Separatists Call for Two-Day Shutdown in Kashmir

Separatists on Sunday called for a two-day shutdown in Kashmir against the death of protesters in clashes in Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency during polling.

We know hartal would not affect government policy towards us but it is the only option to express our collective grief.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mohammad Yasin Malik, separatist leaders

They asked the people to observe complete shut down on Sunday and Monday against the death of six civilians.

The separatists hit out at the PDP saying that the ruling party had become "morally bankrupt".

Also read: Kashmir Bypolls: Litmus Test for PDP in Mehbooba’s Home Turf

Join The Quint on WhatsApp. Type “JOIN” and send to 9910181818.