By: Imran Boniyari
Uri: ‘Internet Curfew’ is still in place in over 2 dozen villages of bordering town Uri here in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. This ‘Curfew’ is in place not because of the government but locals hold telecom companies responsible for all the ‘mess’.
The mobile towers installed by telecom companies didn’t function. People from 27 villages who live along Line of Control yearn for internet access. There is no mobile connective at all. At some places mobile towners have been installed but those didn’t function.
Recently, a couple videos from Kamalkote Uri went viral, people mostly children appealing Lieutenant Governor to ensure mobile connectivity in the area so that children avail the benefits of online classes.
“There is a Jio tower installed in Kamalkote area but it rarely functions. Most of the time, the tower remains dead much to the discomfiture of the people,” a local Sajad Ahmed told news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Besides Kamalkote, the ‘lifeless’ Jio towers have been installed in villages like Madian, Gohallan, Dudran, Salasan and Bernate.
A local resident hailing from the Zamboorpattan village of Uri, Abdul Khalik Khatan said frustration has engulfed them as nothing is being done to mitigate their sufferings. “Sometimes it feels we are living in a ‘no-mans’ land. Nobody cares about us. Time and again we raised the issue with local Tehsildar and concerned SDM, but nothing changed on the ground,” he said.
Syed Muhamamd Khalid, an official from Jio Company said being a hilly area, the signal remains always weak in Uri villages. “Towers have been installed but the area is hilly and besides distance from one to another village is very long,” he said adding that matter is being looked into and to ensure smooth connectivity and internet access every measure will be taken.
Some of the villages where there is complete network connectivity clampdown include Lachipora, Gawas, Dazna, Chirunda, Silikote, Limber, Bodralli, Gagarhill, Chotali, Jabdi, Darkunjan, Badian, Gowalta, Uroosa, Shahdara, Kundibarjala, Zamboorpattan and Dardkote.
Asim Ahmad Mir, a shopkeeper by profession who resides in Bernate village said: “Due to this internet blackout our children who are supposed to get their education through online platforms suffer immensely. We can’t express in words how much we suffer. We request authorities to please intervene and help us in getting out from this grim and frustrating situation.”
An official from the office of Sub-Divisional Magistrate Uri on condition of anonymity told KNT that after getting lot of complains from general public they have forwarded a letter to Deputy Commissioner Baramulla in this regard wherein they have mentioned the details of the villages that lack internet and mobile connectivity. (KNT).