Mobiles jammed in Valley before I-Day functions

Major cell phone networks like the BSNL and Airtel were blocked in the Kashmir valley owing to security reasons.

In an unprecedented move, mobile services of all telecom operators in Kashmir valley were suspended for more than three hours on Tuesday to prevent the use of mobile phones by militants to set off blasts to disrupt Independence Day celebrations.

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BSNL mobile phones in entire Kashmir valley stopped working from 0930 hours, half an hour before the commencement of the I-day functions across the state.

The network started functioning as soon as the function at the Bakshi stadium, the main venue for Independence Day celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir, was over.

Services of private telecom giant Airtel were also disrupted. The customer care cell of Airtel said the service was suspended due to security reasons and was restored by 1400 hours.

Following intelligence reports that militants might use mobile phones to trigger IEDs, security agencies decided not to allow mobile phones to the venues of the function, official sources said.

All the invitations carried a footnote asking invitees not to carry their mobiles with them to the venue of the function, they said.