In wake of gunfight in Khudwani area of Kulgam, where three civilians and an army man has been killed, district on Wednesday, authorities ordered to snap internet services in south Kashmir parts.
The authorities have asked the cellular companies to reduce mobile internet speed in district Srinagar as a “precautionary measure”.
Official sources that police have sent a communication to the cellular companies wherein it has directed them to snap down the mobile internet (2G/3G/4G) data in Pulwama, Shopian and Awantipora with immediate effect.
ALSO READ: 3 civilians killed in clashes near Kulgam gunfight site, protests erupt in Shopian, Pulwama
The communication also directed the cellular companies to reduce the 3G/4G speed into 2G speed in Srinagar district with immediate effect.
As per the directions, the companies have been asked not to keep speed more than 128 kbps in Srinagar district. A senior official while confirming the directive said that the step has been taken to maintain law and order situation.
Meanwhile, a complete shutdown is being observed in Islamabad district of south Kashmir to mourn the three civilian killings. while the internet services were already blocked in Kulgam and Islamabad districts since yesterday midnight.
ALSO READ: Kulgam civilian killings: Its Operation Wipe Out, not Operation All Out, says Mirwaiz
Earlier, three civilians Sharjeel Khan (25) of Khudwani, Bilal Ahmad Tantaray of Hawoora Mishpora and Faisal Illahi of Melhoora Shopian died while as more than 40 others suffered injuries in clashes with the government forces near the encounter site at Wani Mohalla, Khudwani, Kulgam.
An army man was also killed and two other forces personnel were injured in the ongoing gunfight so far.
The gunfight broke out late last night after the joint team of army’s 1 RR, SOG and CRPF launched the cordon following inputs about the presence of some militants.
ALSO READ: Kulgam Gunfight: Helicopter gunships used against trapped militants by Army
The civilian deaths occur just two days after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti met the Prime Minister and Defence Minister of India. In her meeting with Narendra Modi, she had appealed for finding ways to end the bloodshed and alienation in the valley.
During her meeting with Nirmala Sitharaman, Mehbooba had called for a ‘humane approach and avoiding collateral damage during security operations’.
Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the civilian killings, protests rocked University of Kashmir. Students from various departments assembled outside the Humanities block and staged a protest against the civilian killings.
Clashes have erupted in parts of Pulwama and Shopian districts against the killing of three civilians during an ongoing gunfight in Khudwani area of Kulgam.
Youth pelted stones on armed forces deployed in southern areas to express their anger at the killings. Armed forces responded by firing tear gas shells to disperse the protesting youth. Clashes were going on at the time of filing of this report.
(With inputs from GNS)
