Communication gag: 25 lakh pre-paid customers cry ‘foul’

‘Pre-paid customers say Govt must come clean why their phone service is still barred’

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 24-Oct-2019

At least 25 lakh prepaid cellular subscribers still await for government’s nod on the restoration of their cellular services in Kashmir as they claim foul by the authorities, stating that  if post-paid services are functional how come pre-paid is a security threat.According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the prepaid cellular service users of the  Valley continues to remain off from the mobile communication networks from last 81 days.The communication services which were suspended in the intervening night of August  04-05 to maintain law and order following apprehension of protests against Article 370 abrogation and bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union  Territories (UT’s), were partially restored with the resumption of landline line and postpaid services in the Valley. The suspension of prepaid and all internet services is still in  place after a period of 80 days of prevailing uncertainty.Adil Ahmad Kawa, a prepaid subscriber told KNO, “The ongoing prepaid cellular gag has casted a dark shadow on my  business prospectus as I have been using this prepaid number form the last five years and the same number is widely circulated among my customers and clients.”

He said that the government is interested in easing out the restrictions against those services which are used by influential and financial sound people of the valley, whereas a  common mans need is kept at bay. He further added, “It’s really unfortunate that even after a span of 81 days, our prepaid numbers are barred from the networks and the news  about the suspension of prepaid services is quite disappointing and painful for many existing prepaid subscribers of Kashmir.”Shamima, a prepaid user said, “I have been using  my prepaid number from last six years just to be in touch with my son who is working in KSA, as the news about its suspension bothered me a lot, as I don’t know the procedure  of getting a new postpaid number.”She said that the Government should give a positive consideration to the pleas of prepaid customers who are caught in deep trouble due to the  ongoing speculations on prepaid services in the valley. She further added, “The permanent suspension of our numbers is completely unjustified as it was better for the concerned  authorities to re-verify the existing prepaid customers of the valley before the restoration of services.”Many pre-paid customers said government must come clean as to how pre- paid phones are threat to peace and security in Kashmir post-post phones are functional. (KNO)