India again halts text messaging services in Kashmir

The Indian government has blocked text messaging services for mobile phones in the Indian-administered Kashmir only a day after a communication lockdown had been partially terminated in the disputed region.

Indian security sources said on Tuesday that the decision to snap text services in Kashmir was taken by the country’s Home Ministry to curb the ability of alleged militants to communicate, AFP reported.

Authorities said that SMS services had been cut following a deadly attack on a truck driver in the Shopian district of Kashmir.

Residents said two masked gunmen told the driver to move his vehicle because it was blocking the road, but it skidded and got stuck. “The gunmen then fired at the truck and set it on fire,” a witness told AFP.

Indian authorities had restored call and text services for mobile phones on Monday after a 72-day blackout in the restive region over New Delhi’s scrapping of Kashmir’s semi-autonomy.

Internet services, also cut over two months ago, continue to be unavailable.

SS