Businessmen, students fume over internet blockade
Even though the broadband internet service was restored in Valley on Tuesday but the continuous suspension of the mobile data service till April 13 has infuriated the people.
The internet services in the Valley were suspended hours before Srinagar constituency went to polls on April 9.
“Ban on internet is ridiculous, not a single place on earth bars its citizens from accessing the internet,” said Bilal Ahmad, a bioinformatics student of the University of Kashmir. “Unfortunately, it happens only in Kashmir.”
Media has also been hit by the internet blockade.
“My news portal used to get thousands of hits and my YouTube channel also makes money. But after the ban, the views have dropped,” said an editor of a news portal. “I will have to redo all work to get audience again.”
The frustration among the youth was visible with many being spotted playing ‘Gali Cricket’ while others were testing their luck to catch an open broadband WiFi signals.
“I am so disturbed with this internet ban that I’ve been continuously taping on the internet icon on my phone since morning hoping it returns?” said 20-year-old Aiman Shah.
Many top Kashmiri brands moved their operations outside the Valley owing to the constant threat of disruption of internet services.
“After suffering huge losses in business, I had no other option but to shift my office to New Delhi in 2016,” said Aabid Lone, who runs Infotech call center in Delhi.
“I don’t think I’ll return to the Valley as more and more business outlets are shifting outside Kashmir due to the internet gag there.”
Javed Ahmad, an internet, addict said ever since the internet was shut he feels restless.
“I’m not able to stay connected with my friends!” he said.
