Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Home Department has extended the suspension of high speed 4G internet services in the Union Territory to 8 Janurary 2020.
The region has been cut off from normal internet connectivity since its special status under article 370 was abrogated in August last year.
The department in a government order said that the recently concluded local polls has not gone down well with elements inimical to public peace and tranquility.
The order says that restriction have to be continued to curb the unfettered use of social media in uploading/downloading/circulating provocative videos, rumour mongering, fake news etc.
Kashmir has access only to limited 2G connections with speeds of 16 – 64 kbps since the abrogation of the special status. It has been pointed out that education, health and business sectors are affected with the restriction.
Due to the restriction, online legal mechanism, work from home and digital learning are not feasible for the people in the region.
Human Rights activists have pointed out that the ban violates several international obligations of the Indian Government provided in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).