J&K: Kashmir Phone Connectivity To Be Restored Over The Weekend, Schools To Reopen Next Week
According to the J&K chief secretary, there has been no loss of life or major injury since restrictions were imposed on Aug. 5.
Most phone lines in Jammu & Kashmir will be restored over the weekend and schools will reopen next week, J&K Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam said on Friday.
Offices of the J&K government in the Kashmir Valley functioned normally on Friday and the attendance in many offices was "quite high", he said.
According to Subrahmanyam, there has been no loss of life or major injury in J&K since restrictions were imposed on Aug. 5, when the state’s administrative autonomy under Article 370 was revoked and it was bifurcated into two union territories.
"...There will be easing of restrictions in the next few days in an orderly way," the J&K chief secretary said in Srinagar. "Schools will be opened after the weekend area-wise so that children's studies do not suffer.”
Telecom connectivity, a major point of concern, will be restored in a phased manner, keeping in mind the constant threat posed by terrorist organisations, he said.
"You will see gradual restoration from tonight and tomorrow onwards. You will find a lot of Srinagar functioning tomorrow morning. BSNL takes a couple of hours to get back to action. Exchange by exchange they will be switching it on. Over the weekend, you will have most of these lines functional."
Twelve out of the 22 districts in Jammu & Kashmir were functioning normally while there was limited night-time restrictions only in five districts. "After today's Friday prayers, immediate reports suggest that things have gone off quite peacefully right throughout the state," he said. "We have prevented any loss of human life despite concerted efforts by terrorist organisations, radical groups and continuing efforts by Pakistan to destabilise the situation.”
As restrictions on people movement are removed area-wise, public transport too will start functioning accordingly, said Subrahmanyam.
"It is expected that over the next few days as the restrictions get eased, life in Jammu & Kashmir will become completely normal. This is already visible on the roads as they are full of regular traffic and we expect an increase in the coming days," he said.
Preventive detentions, the J&K chief secretary said, are being continuously reviewed. Appropriate decisions will be made based on law and order assessments, he added.
The J&K administration appreciates the fact that cooperation of Kashmiris is critical in helping maintain peace and public order, said Subrahmanyam. "Focus is that, at the earliest, normalcy returns while ensuring that terrorist forces are given no opportunity to wreak havoc as in the past," he said.
The J&K government took steps to ensure that there was no shortage of essentials and medicines when the restrictions, said Subrahmanyam. The free movement of Haj pilgrims was also ensured, he added.