Clocking in at 164 days, internet blackout in IOK is the longest outage

In occupied Kashmir, normal life continues to remain crippled in the Kashmir Valley and Muslim majority areas unprecedented and inhuman lockdown entered 164^th day with complete internet blackout.

Clocking in at 164 days and counting, the internet blackout in Indian-administered Kashmir is the longest such outage in any democracy.

Last week, India’s top court ruled that it was illegal.

It’s illegal to shutdown Kashmir’s internet indefinitely, according to a ruling by India’s top court.

Judges demanded Delhi review its internet blackout in Kashmir.

‘Freedom of Internet access is a fundamental right’, says N.V. Ramana, Supreme Court Justice.

India imposed the shutdown last summer after withdrawing India-controlled Kashmir’s special autonomy.

Officials said the blackout was necessary to maintain order.

Rights Group Access now calls the Kashmir shutdown, the longest such outage of its kind in any democracy.

The increasing chill after fresh rains and snowfall has added to the miseries of the people of Occupied Kashmir who have been already suffering immensely due to strict military siege since August 5.

Due to continued lockdown, people could not stock essential commodities for the harsh winter.

Restrictions under Section 144 remain enforced and hundreds of thousands of Indian forces’ personnel are present in every nook and corner of occupied Kashmir.

They add to the fear and anxiety of the people.

Barring partial restoration of landline and postpaid cellular phones, communications links including internet and prepaid mobile connections remain totally snapped in the entire Valley.

People in the valley are observing mass civil disobedience to show their strong resentment to India’s brutal occupation.

In this regard, shops continue to remain shut most of the time except for few hours in the day.

Hardly any public transport seen on the roads.

Hundreds of thousands of Kashmiris massacred by the forces of Maharaja Hari Singh.

Indian Army and Hindu fanatics affiliated with RSS and other communal organizations in different parts of Jammu region.

While, they migrated to Pakistan during the first week of November in 1947.

However, the ban on internet, text messaging and prepaid mobile connections is still in place.