Affected residents perplexed as to why miscreants are hell bent on disrupting life of a common Kashmiris in the Valley even as administration start a crackdown and detain several people with previous involvement in militant related activities
By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Kashmir has witnessed a new trend in terrorist related violence as militants have targeted telecom outlets and tele communication towers over last 10 days.
From North Kashmir to South Kashmir, there has been a surge in target attacks on people, who have leased their lands for establishing cell phone towers to telecom companies. Three men have been shot dead and several wounded in last 10 days in these incidents. In the latest attack on telecom facility, militants lobbed a grenade on a tower in Habbakadal area of Srinagar, injuring one person on Monday, June 1.
Tower of telecom facility, where militants lobbed a grenade in Habbakadal area of Srinagar on Monday, June 1. (Courtesy: Nissar Ahmed)
The spate of attacks on telecommunication networks began in Sopore, then Pattan and Handwara before spreading to Srinagar and other parts of the valley.
“Since last one week, we are without any cell phone connectivity as towers have been shut down due to militant attacks. Only BSNL is working but unfortunately with a miserable network. My son is studying in Srinagar and I am not able to contact him since last many days,” Farooq Ahmed Mir, who lives in Rafiabad area of Sopore, told Twocircles.net.
Meanwhile, acting on the chief minister’s directive, some towers have been restored in Sopore and security is being provided to mobile towers on Wednesday.
But in the meantime, all the five main Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) franchise operating across Kashmir Valley on Monday closed their outlets after re-surfacing of threatening posters and ‘mysterious’ attacks on people associated with telecommunication sector.
With the shutdown of the BSNL franchise outlets in all the districts, the sub-franchises and retailers have automatically wound up their business. As a result, since Monday, no prepaid BSNL subscriber was able to recharge his/her cell phone.
In last two days, various recharge outlets across the valley were seen removing telecom hoardings and advertisement posters from their shops. “Neither we want to die nor do we want to take any life threatening risk. We will starve but won’t take risk by participating in telecom activities. We are fraught with fear at this instance,” Mushtaq Najar, a recharge vendor from Watergam area of Sopore told Twocircles.net.
The communication system was badly affected in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Reports said that besides BSNL, the services of other private cellular companies was not satisfactory in the district. Except Pulwama and Pampore towns, the mobile service was hit in almost all the hamlets including Khrew, Konibal, Andrus, Chandhara, Inder, Puchal, Tahab, Ratnipora, Lelhar, Patal Bagh and other areas.
“I am studying in Srinagar. After Sopore attacks all the towers went down in my home town (Sopore). I have no news of my parents’ whereabouts. I think this act of terrorists is aimed at taking us back to dark ages,” Mir Usman, a college student told Twocircles.net.
Another Student, Adnan Farooq who is studying in Delhi is toiling hard to get in touch with his parents who live in Marazigund hamlet in Rafiabad, “Since last two days I am unable to get in touch with my parents after towers shutdown. I don’t understand why some miscreants are hell bent to disrupt the life of common Kashmiris in the valley. This is a clear oppression of Kashmiris by some antisocial elements,” remarked Adnan.
Omar Abdullah, National Conference working president and former J&K CM, on Tuesday launched a scathing attack at CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed over these recent attacks targeting tele communication infrastructure in the Valley. “Has Mufti Sayeed said anything to reassure the people connected with the Cell Phone industry in Kashmir? A single statement? Probably won’t!!” Omar tweeted.
“Mufti Sayeed in 2002-2005 said (during his previous term as the chief minister) ‘I gave the people of J&K cell phones’ and Mufti Syed (20)15-?? ‘I oversaw the demise & removal of cell phone services in Kashmir’,” Omar ridiculed the PDP patron.
“Isn’t the 100 day anniversary of this government coming up as well? Instead of candles, they will blow out cell towers!!!” he said.
“Is it any wonder people are searching for the Mufti of 2002 & can’t seem to find him anywhere!!!” he added.
Sayeed on Tuesday called a high-level meeting of senior civil and police officers to review the security and law and order situation in the State following surge in attacks on people attached with telecom infrastructure in the Valley.
Taking strong note of the disruption of cellular networks in various parts of the Valley, Mufti Sayeed observed that people cannot be pushed into the Stone Age. He said cellular networks have become lifeline as these services are availed by all sections of the society.
The Chief Minister directed DGP to take all possible steps to thwart any attempt to disrupt cellular networks in Valley and provide security to mobile tower installations and owners. He said the miscreants cannot be allowed to take law into their own hands and police should deal sternly with such elements.
The Chief Minister also directed the DGP to ensure that uninterrupted mobile network connectivity is provided to the people.
Meanwhile, the administration has started a crackdown with many people with pervious involvement in militant related activities rounded up for questioning and locked up in Cargo Camp in Srinagar. According to a detainee, around 40 persons are locked in since yesterday.
A 37-year-old resident of Natipora Srinagar, one of the men detained for questioning since Tuesday, is since then locked in the police cargo camp at Aulchi Bagh Srinagar. Twocircles.net gained entry to the said camp and met him. “I know I had done a mistake in 2008 that I joined separatist activity and I have got punishment for that. But now I have shunned all that very long back. Now police is summoning and locking us for no reason. I am a business man and all my business activities are shut since yesterday. I have two daughters and they would be asking their mom ‘where is their dad’? And what will I answer to my daughters as to why was I locked? This is mentally agonizing,” the detainee, who did not wish to be identified owing to his own safety, told Twocircles.net.