2G Phone Services In Kashmir Restored In Jammu; LandLines Active In 17 Valley Exchanges

Twelve districts in Jammu and Kashmir out of 22 were functioning normally while there was limited night-time restrictions only in five districts.

Srinagar: 2G phone services in the Valley were restored in on Saturday in five districts in Jammu and the landlines were activated in 17 valley exchanges; bringing some relief to the locals. As per a top Jammu and Kashmir official, The schools will reopen area-wise next week.  The official said that the restrictions will be reased in a phased and "orderly way". Offices of the Jammu and Kashmir government in the Valley functioned normally on Friday and the attendance in many offices was "quite high", Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam said at a press conference. He said there has been no loss of life or major injury since restrictions were imposed on August 5, when Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 was revoked and the state split into two union territories. "...There will be easing of restrictions in the next few days in an orderly way," Subrahmanyam said, adding that steps would be taken keeping in view the evolving situation as well as the cooperation of the people in maintaining calm and peace. "Schools will be opened after the weekend area-wise so that children's studies do not suffer," he said. Telecom connectivity, a major point of concern, will gradually be eased and restored in a phased manner keeping in mind the constant threat posed by terrorist groups to organise terror actions, Subrahmanyam said. Asked about the restoration of telephone lines, he said, "You will see gradual restoration from tonight and tomorrow onwards. You will find a lot of Srinagar functioning tomorrow morning. BSNL takes a couple of hours to get back to action. Exchange by exchange they will be switching it on. Over the weekend, you will have most of these lines functional." Twelve districts in Jammu and Kashmir out of 22 were functioning normally while there was limited night-time restrictions only in five districts. "After today's Friday prayers, immediate reports suggest that things have gone off quite peacefully right throughout the state," he said. Earlier in the day in Delhi, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said in the Supreme Court that people should trust the security forces deployed in Jammu and Kashmir and authorities are taking stock of situation on day-to-day basis. He told the court, hearing a petition by Kashmir Times Executive Editor Anuradha Bhasin that some time should be given to bring normalcy in the region. Bhasin had sought removal of restrictions imposed on working of journalists in the state after scrapping of provisions of Article 370 and the restoration of all modes of communication, including mobile, internet and landline services, throughout the state. Meanwhile, India firmly told Pakistan that it has to stop terrorism to start talks as the UN Security Council held a rare closed door meeting to discuss revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the media in the Valley's principal city, the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary said, "We have prevented any loss of human life despite concerted efforts by terrorist organisations, radical groups and continuing efforts by Pakistan to destabilise the situation." As restrictions on the movement of people are removed area by area, movement of public transport will be allowed in these areas too, the senior official said. "It is expected that over the next few days as the restrictions get eased, life in Jammu and Kashmir will become completely normal. This is already visible on the roads as the roads are full of regular traffic and we expect to an increase in the coming days," he said.