Srinagar, June 29: Hours after the government blocked cellular services in Varmul district, a complete ban was imposed on the Short Messaging Services (SMS) in entire valley from Monday midnight.
 The ban has triggered widespread resentment among lakhs of mobile customers in the valley.
 “It has been the practice of cellular operators in Kashmir to block the service on January 26, August 15 and VIP visits and now snapping services on account of law and order situation is a cruel joke with Kashmiris,” said a cellular subscribe Nazir Ahmad. The mobile services in north Kashmir were snapped Monday morning in view of Sopur Chalo call given by the separatist groups.
 “We are worried about safety of our relatives in Sopur. We tried to call them from yesterday morning, but couldn’t contact them. Services have been stopped at a time when we need to remain in touch with them,” said Fayaz Ahmed of Varmul.
 General Manager Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Kashmir zone, Mukesh Shukla said that police instructed them to shut the SMS service in valley and cellular services in Varmul and Sopur in separate directives.
 The cellular services and SMS facility have been banned in the state several times in past as well. During the 2008 summer agitation, SMS facility was banned in the state.
 A ban was imposed on prepaid cell phones in November last year, but was revoked in January this year with stringent conditions for identity verification of existing or new subscribers.
 In April this year, ban was imposed on SMS, but was revoked before it came into effect.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 29 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST