Speed restrictions on mobile internet access would still remain in place until mid-March. PHOTO: FILE
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government withdrew the special rights of Jammu and Kashmir - then India’s only Muslim majority state - and split it into two federally administered territories last August, arguing the move was necessary to spur development.
Internet shutdown in IOJ&K, longest ever in a democracy?
At the same time, New Delhi flooded the heavily-militarised region with additional troops, detained scores of people, and imposed harsh movement and communications restrictions.
Most of those restrictions were gradually eased but curbs on communications remained, with social media websites including Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram blocked and internet speeds throttled, particularly on mobile phones.
On Monday, in a government order reviewed by Reuters, authorities said only speed restrictions on mobile internet access would remain in place until mid-March.
US firm helps build firewall to maintain social media ban in Indian Occupied Kashmir
Riyaz Mir, managing director of CNS Infotec, a private internet provider in Kashmir’s main city of Srinagar, said he had restored access to social media and all other websites on his networks.
Authorities had earlier said that the months-long ban was required to quell unrest over the withdrawal of the region’s autonomy, although many residents were using virtual private network (VPN) apps to circumvent the restrictions.
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