Internet, mobile phone services suspended in Kashmir valley

Srinagar, Aug 15: A high alert has been declared in Jammu and Kashmir and internet and mobile phone services were suspended across the Valley as a precautionary measure.

The mobile telephony services, including the Internet facility on the hand-held devices, have been suspended across the valley, the officials said. Only BSNL landline service and its wired-internet facilities were working, they said."All other services across all network operators have been barred," the officials said. They said the services were suspended as a precautionary measure.

Barring the services was part of the security drill on the occasion of the Independence Day, the officials said, adding they would be restored once the official functions end. The authorities have been clamping down on mobile services on the occasions of Republic Day and Independence Day in Kashmir. The security agencies added this step to the security drill after terrorists triggered a blast outside Bakshi Stadium during the Independence Day parade in 2005.

Youth beaten up:

A youth, who tried to unfurl the tricolour at the Clock Tower in Lal Chowk, was beaten by locals on Tuesday, even as a group of students in Anantnag mocked security forces by leading a march and waving Pakistan flags to celebrate the Independence Day of the neighbouring country.

The incident occurred in the afternoon when some people tuned up near the Clock Tower at Lal Chowk to unfurl the tricolour. When they were trying to hoist the flag, some miscreants objected to the event and thrashed the youth.

Police immediately reached the spot and tried to escort the youth to safety. However, some people chased the youth and thrashed him while he was being whisked away.

PTI