Ban on social networking sites lifted in Kashmir after a month

Srinagar, May 27: The Jammu and Kashmir government has lifted ban on social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter, in Kashmir valley.

Official sources here today said that the ban on social networking sites has not been extended in Kashmir. The ban on social media sites in Kashmir was imposed for a month in view of sprung in protests by students, triggered by a security force raid on Degree College Pulwama on April 15, when over 50 students, including girls, were injured in the clashes in educational institute.

The Home department, headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had imposed the ban till May 26, citing that these social networking sites were being “misused by anti-national and anti-social elements to create law and order disturbances” in Kashmir.

However, the ban drew criticism from intellectuals within the country, besides global organisations, including the United Nations. The UN had on May 11 urged the Centre to withdraw the ban on internet services and reinstate freedom of speech in the valley. The state government last month banned 22 social networking sites, including Facebook and WhatsApp.

However, the banned sites were accessible on all mobile networks through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and on state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) broadband service.