After attacks on telecom facilities, J&K govt provides security to cell operators

Following attacks on people on whose land mobile towers have been set up, cellular services have been disrupted in parts of the valley during the past few days.

The issue figured during a high-level meeting of senior civil and police officers chaired by the chief minister to review the security and law and order situation in the state. During the meeting, the situation following attacks on mobile tower installations, in particular North and Central Kashmir, was also discussed.

The meeting was attended by Director General of Police, K. Rajendra, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary, Home, R. K. Goyal and IGP, Kashmir, SJM Gillani.

The meeting came a day after militants targeted a mobile phone tower with a grenade in a downtown area of Srinagar, in yet another incident that led to disruption in communication services in the valley. The militants have targeted telecom facilities in north Kashmir over the last 10 days.

Sayeed said people cannot be pushed into stone age as modern-day functioning in government, banking, tourism, education and other vital sectors, in particular, old-age pension and e-transfer of insurance claims and compensation to flood-affected victims were totally dependent on the internet connectivity.