Internet in J-K may not be restored soon: Officials

On the release of political leaders, the functionary said the administration is taking step-by-step decisions.

Central ministers will visit Jammu and Kashmir one by one to assess the situation, look into implementation of development programmes and try to interact with people in the coming days, a senior government functionary said on Thursday.

On the release of political leaders, the functionary said the administration is taking step-by-step decisions.

"First they allowed movement of people on roads, then landline phones were restored and then mobile phones were restored in some areas. Similarly, the leaders will also be released at a convenient time," he said.

However, Internet services are unlikely to be restored anytime soon as Pakistan has launched a campaign against India and is also trying to instigate Naga insurgents with provocative videos against the government, officials said.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration is gradually lifting restrictions on movement of people, landline phones, mobile phones network to ease life, which have been hampered since the abrogation of the special status given to the state under Article 370.

"As the situation is improving, the restrictions are being removed. However, Internet connection will not be restored soon as Pakistan continues to spread venom against India through the Internet.

"They are trying to instigate people against the government and such videos, which originated in Pakistan, have even reached Nagaland," a security official said.

Instant messaging app WhatsApp was widely used in Jammu and Kashmir in the past to feed misinformation against the government.

"Once the Internet is restored, Pakistan will try its best to instigate people in Jammu and Kashmir like what they are now doing with insurgents in Nagaland," the official said.

As per information received by the authorities, several provocative messages are doing the rounds in Nagaland.

Another official said Pakistan's agenda to create trouble in India through social media has been detected and it was found that Pakistani officers were shooting videos in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) showing security forces wearing uniforms of Indian security forces committing atrocities against people.

"Such videos are being circulated in various places," the official said.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Thursday restored mobile phone services in five 'sensitive' districts of Jammu region, an official said.

The services were restored in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch, Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma said.

While two central ministers have so far visited Ladakh -- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday and Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda last week, none has gone to the Kashmir Valley since August 5 when the government announced the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories.

"Central ministers will visit Jammu and Kashmir one by one in the coming days to personally see how things are going on there," the senior government functionary said.

All central ministries and departments have been given the task to look into various development programmes and how they are being implemented.

The Cabinet Secretary is closely monitoring the programmes of the central ministries.

The development projects to be carried out in Jammu and Kashmir will be from the existing funds of the ministries and they will ensure that the programmes reach the common people in both UTs -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, which will come into existence on October 31.

Since August 5, several central teams have visited the state to assist the local administration on different areas.

"Some more teams from central ministries will also visit Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days," the functionary said.