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Journalism of Courage
In these South Kashmir villages, a cellphone connection now comes with a rider. After passing the elaborate registration process by service providers, including a police verification, users have been asked get themselves registered at the local Army camp.
‘‘The Army has told us to register our mobile connections with their local unit here,’’ says an Airtel customer from Kulgam one of the villages in this area, who did not wish to be identified. ‘‘It was a dream for me to get a cell phone. But, I think to shun it now,’’ he says.
But the Army says it has only issued an appeal to prevent misuse by militants, ever since cellular services were started a year ago. ‘‘There’s no force. We have made an appeal to people to register mobiles and their names with the Army,’’ says Army spokesman, Col V K Batra.
‘‘In the past, militants have forcibly snatched mobiles from the civilians and returned them after using for some days. So we have appealed to them to register, so that we can keep track if militants use them,’’ he says.
Citing an example from Uri, where Army was able to extinguish a fire in time, Col Batra says, ‘‘It also helps us to locate the caller, if he needs some help.’’
Particularly worried by the new Army ‘‘order’’ are some residents of the area who had acquired mobile connections in the name of their relatives and friends. Some of them are even planning to surrender their connections.
