SRINAGAR: In a major relief, the authorities on Friday restored internet service in Kargil district of Ladakh Union Territory, 145 days after suspending it in the wake of August 5 scrapping of Article 370 and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir State into two Union Territories.
Kargil, along with Leh district, is part of the newly created Ladakh UT.
All forms of internet, including mobile internet, was restored at around 10.45 am, Deputy Commissioner Kargil Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary said. Broadband connections are functional in Kargil.
The official said the internet service was restored after security agencies gave the go-ahead in a high-level meeting attended by top civilian and security officials of the UT.
The internet service was suspended in Kargil few days after the August 5 scrapping of J&K’s special status.
The internet and prepaid mobile services were blocked in Kargil in the face of protests over the revocation of Article 370.
DC Kargil said this was the second time since August 8 that the internet service was restored in Kargil. “Earlier, in the first week of October, we had restored the internet in the district. However, after some issues, we had to suspend the service again after 10 days,” he said.
Asked whether social networking platforms including Facebook and Twitter have been blocked, DC said, “No social networking site has been blocked.”