Srinagar, Jan 26 (UNI) A day after the government announced the resumption of 2G internet services after 173 days of suspension, mobile services of all cellular companies were suspended for about nine hours on Sunday as a precautionary measure during the 71st Republic Day (RD) celebrations.

Official sources told UNI that the mobile services resumed at around 1600 hrs.

This is the first RD celebrations after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory (UT) on August 5 last year, when the centre scrapped Article 370 and divided the state into two UTs, Jammu & Kashmir and Laddakh.

Post and pre-paid mobile services were suspended at about 0700 hrs as a precautionary measure in the valley, including in the summer capital, Srinagar, where the main RD function was held at the S K cricket stadium in the Sonawar area under very tight security.
Internet services for 2G which were also suspended. Though the government had directed all cellular companies to resume 2G internet at 0001 hrs, it was restored only yesterday afternoon.

However, people alleged that the internet speed was very slow which did not help the matters. “There was no question of opening any online newspaper or accessing any national or international news agency since the speed was very slow,” they alleged.

Broadband and other fixed line internet services was suspended on August 5, 2019 in the valley.

Media persons covering the RD functions were also affected due to the suspension of mobile services, including of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

In the past militants have used mobile phones to detonate Improvised Explosive Device (IEDs).
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