Centre today asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure security of communication infrastructure in the state. The Home Ministry has issued an advisory to the state in the wake of attacks on mobile towers. It has asked the state government to urgently review the security situation.
Asking the state government to provide a detailed action plan to deal with the situation arising out of the militants threat, the Home Ministry said security is vital for ensuring smooth functioning of the communication network in Jammu and Kashmir.There have been attacks on mobile telecom installations by terrorists in the state in the recent past.
Earlier in the day, Communications and IT minister Ravishankar Prasad said, the Centre has taken a serious note of the incidents and asked the state authorities to take appropriate action. He also urged the people of the state to cooperate with the government in the matter.
In Jammu & Kashmir, after three attacks on civilians associated with telecom business in Sopore, Pattan and Handwara in North Kashmir within ten days time, the latest grenade attack at cellular tower in Srinagar yesterday has added to the worries of the authorities even as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today asked security authorities to come up with immediate concrete action. The cellular companies have shut their shops, closed operations of the mobile towers and their executives, operators and runners have suspended their business out of fear after separate attacks were carried out in North Kashmir.
The banking operations and services are also likely to be affected. The telecommunication operations in North and South Kashmir remained disrupted while in Srinagar telephone services to some extent have also got hampered since yesterday. Only BSNL network is working intermittently in affected areas. Reports suggest after north and south, the central Kashmir is close to witness a communication crisis.
Two civilians were killed and two injured in a series of attacks in North Kashmir and Srinagar, by unidentified persons owing allegiance to little known militant outfit Lashkar e Islam. After hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani denounced the attacks on civilians and telecom installations and personnel by this outfit and asked about its authenticity, an amalgam of militant outfits ‘United Jehad Council’ termed the outfit fake working against interests of people.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has criticized State Government on its failure to reassure stakeholders in cell phone industry. Army and Police authorities have assured tangible action to restore telecom services in affected areas. Meanwhile, Kashmir BSNL Tower Landlord Welfare Organization and other private cellular tower operators have decided to suspend their work till June 10.