Administration reassures after ‘temporary internet snapping’ triggers panic in Jammu

Srinagar\JAMMU: The Civil administration and Police on Sunday reassured the people of Jammu region after rumors triggered by suspension of 2G mobile internet in Jammu led to a state of complete chaos and panic in the region.

The confusion led to long queues outside petrol pumps, forcing authorities to issue clarifications—one after another—dispelling people’s apprehensions and reassuring them of normalcy in the region.

Barely a day after low speed (2G) mobile internet was restored in five districts of Jammu region, the authorities "temporarily disconnected" the services on Sunday, leading to all sorts of rumors— from reimposition of restrictions under section 144 of CrPC to fuel pumps being drying out; from some incident in Rajouri and at Gujjar nagar to a strike in Jammu on Monday.

Long queues were seen outside petrol pumps and shops during the day as rumours fuelled panic buying by residents. It was around 6 in the evening that the official clarifications from the government started coming in public.

At a hurriedly-convened press conference, District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Sushma Chauhan and Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Tejinder Singh said there is no report of any untoward incident in any part of the district and warned of strict action again rumour-mongers.

"Some rumours about reimposition of section 144 and closure of schools are absolutely baseless," Chauhan said, adding that all the schools in the district will function normally on Monday.

She said things are absolutely normal and all citizens are expected to contribute in maintaining law and order in the district by not spreading any data or information which is "baseless and unverified" because that too will amount to a punishable offence.

The SSP requested people to immediately bring to their notice those spreading misinformation. "We request people to bring those persons who are spreading this misinformation to our notice immediately by calling 100 or by contacting your local police station," he said, warning the rumour-mongers to refrain from spreading misinformation otherwise strict proceedings shall be initiated against them.

While sources said Internet services were snapped after it was found that a video clip with the potential to trigger communal tension was being circulated and that searches were being carried out for nabbing those behind the video clip, a police officer earlier in the day had said the services were snapped to check rumour-mongering and maintain peace and tranquillity.

However, Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Mukesh Singh said the 2G network has "temporarily been disconnected due to some technical reasons which is being rectified and efforts are on to ensure restoration as soon as possible".

IGP Singh also warned of strict action against rumour-mongers. "A lot of rumour is being circulated regarding some incident in Rajouri or at Gujjar nagar (Jammu). There is also a rumour regarding a strike in Jammu due to which there are long queues at petrol pumps.

"I would like to inform all the citizens that all such rumours are false. No incident has taken place anywhere as is being circulated. The 2G network has temporarily been disconnected due to some technical reasons which is being rectified and efforts are on to ensure restoration as soon as possible," the IGP said. Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma also addressed the media and said there is complete normalcy in Jammu division an urged people not to pay any heed to rumours and maintain peace and harmony.

“The Div Com informed that the internet service which has been restored in some districts became ineffective today due to technical fault while broadband service is still active.

However, the mobile internet services remain suspended in some districts as preventive measures, he added. “The Div Com said that the rumour mongers who deliberately trying to disrupt the peace in the region would be dealt strictly under law,” an official statement said. Low-speed mobile internet services were restored in five districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday after remaining suspended for nearly a fortnight.

Mobile Internet services were snapped across Jammu region on August 4, a day before the Centre's move to revoke provisions of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated it into union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The district administration in Rajouri, Udhampur and Poonch also clarified that the situation in the districts is well under control and asked people not to pay heed to the rumour
Updated On 8/19/2019 11:39:06 AM
Updated On 8/19/2019 11:41:55 AM

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