Srinagar: The internet in Kupwara district remained suspended for the third consecutive day on Monday even as traders and students expressed anger over it and sought its immediate restoration so that their routine activities are not hampered further.
The internet was snapped after the killing of a civilian allegedly by army at Kralgund. The traders while expressing dismay over the frequent suspension of the internet by authorities and said that their business was getting badly affected due to the internet shutdown.
“One can’t imagine without internet these days. However due to frequent banning of internet, our limited business is getting severely affected every now and then. The government boasts about digitalization but the reality on ground is otherwise. In this modern era, we are being deprived of internet services because of law and order issues,” said Gulzar Ahmad, a trader in Kupwara town.
The traders appealed concerned authorities to immediately restore the connectivity so that they are not put to further inconvenience.
“Yesterday police declared result about the selection of constables and most of the youth don’t know about their fate,” said Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Kupwara.
The students on the other hand also complained about the inconveniences to suspension of internet. The students said the government on the pretext of maintaining law and order was actually punishing people. “When some countries have made internet a fundamental right, we face internet lockdown. In other words, it is denial of fundamental right which otherwise stand guaranteed by the constitution.”
The students said that they can’t think of preparing examinations without internet in contemporary times and authorities should realise it,” said a college student from Handwara.
Many other students said that at a time when exams at various levels were going on, the students have been deprived of Internet services which help them in preparations. “We urge authorities to kindly restore all modes of Internet services as soon as possible,” the students demanded. (GNS)