Mobile users in Kashmir charged for 72 days of blocked phones

Srinagar : Going by the promise of administration, postpaid mobile phones in Kashmir started buzzing from Monday; however, outgoing calls remained another issue. The mobile users found that the mobile companies have charged them for the 72 days of blockade and for many the outgoing call facility has been barred due to non-payment of the bill.

While, it sounds like if the bill is paid at least outgoing calls will begin, the bigger hurdle was that since the internet facility is yet to be restored so the payments cannot be done.

The Centre had blocked all calling facility in the valley on August 5 before scrapping the Article 370 of the Indian constitution, bifurcating the state into two union territories. Blocking mobile services was a part of the precautionary measures - including the detention of politicians, extra security and evacuation of tourists -- adopted to prevent a backlash against the move.

Prior to this, the government had restored limited number of landlines where the locals had to queue up for making urgent calls to their dear ones.

There are about 70 lakh mobile connections in the valley. Forty lakh postpaid, which are now functional, and 30 lakh prepaid phones that are yet to be restored. There, however, is no word on when the internet will be back.

The government has maintained that the restoration in the valley will be done in a phased manner depending upon the ground situation at the valley.