The authorities suspended services in Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora, Pattan and Kupwara areas. "We have been asked to suspend mobile phone services in these areas till further orders," one service provider told media men. The ban has triggered widespread resentment among lakhs of mobile customers in the valley. "It has been the practice of cellular operators in Kashmir to block the service on January 26, August 15 and VIP visits and now snapping services on account of law and order situation is a cruel joke with Kashmiris," said a cellular subscriber, Nazir Ahmad.
The mobile services in north Kashmir were snapped on Monday morning in view of Sopore Chalo call given by the Hurriyet leaders. "We are worried about safety of our relatives in Sopore. We tried to call them from yesterday morning, but couldn't contact them. Services have been stopped at a time when we need to remain in touch with them," said Fayaz Ahmed of Baramulla.
General Manager of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Kashmir zone, Mukesh Shukla said that the authorities instructed them to stop the SMS in valley and cellular services in Baramullal and Sopore in separate directives. The cellular services and SMS facility have been banned in the occupied territory several times in past as well. A ban was imposed on prepaid cell phones in November last year, but was revoked in January this year. In April this year, ban was imposed on SMS, but was revoked before it came into effect.