Internet gag on poll day shows how bad things have become: Omar

Srinagar, Apr 9: Hitting out at government over suspension of mobile and broadband internet services in poll-bound Kashmir, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said it shows how bad things have become in the last couple of years.
“Don’t remember this happening in previous elections. Just goes to show how b        ad things have gotten in the last couple of years,” Mr Abdullah, who is the working president of main opposition National Conference (NC), wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.
Internet service of all cellular companies, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Broadband, was snapped in poll-bound Kashmir valley. Authorities ordered suspension of internet service of all companies since mid-night last in the valley to prevent spread of any rumours, particularly on social media. The broadband subscribers too were affected due to suspension of the internet.
Since violence hit Kashmir valley after the death of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani on July 8 last year, the broadband internet and mobile phone services were suspended thrice prior to this gag for around 25 days. For around a month, the only mobile service functional in Kashmir valley was BSNL while pre-paid services of all cellular companies were restored after a span of three months on October 15 last year.
The mobile internet services for post-paid connections were restored on November 19 last year after a gag of about five months. Similarly, mobile internet services for prepaid connections were restored in Kashmir on January 27, six months after they were suspended.