Telecom services suspended in Rajouri, Poonch to evade misuse by anti-national elements, miscreants: Home Deptt

Jammu, Dec 24: J&K Home Department has described “temporary suspension of telecom services” in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu province on December 23 and 24, as an “absolute necessity in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State and for maintaining public order.”

Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Home Raj Kumar Goyal stated this, while confirming the orders of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu zone in this connection, retrospectively.
IGP’s order had mentioned the possibility of mobile data and public Wi-Fi facility services to be misused by anti-national elements or miscreants, thus causing deterioration in public order.

Goyal stated that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Jammu being the authorized officer under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, issued directions to the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to suspend mobile data (2G/3G/4G/5G) and public Wi-fi facility services in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu province with effect from December 23, 2023 (11 pm) to December 24, 2023 (11 pm).

“The order or letter under reference, inter-alia, mentions about possibility of Mobile Data (2G/3G/4G/5G) and public Wi-Fi facility services to be misused by anti-national elements or miscreants, which may cause deterioration in public order,” Goyal said, while referring to the order issued by IGP, Jammu.

Goyal said that upon consideration of the various aspects, as brought out in the material provided by the Authorized Officer (IGP), he was satisfied that there was “absolute necessity for issuance of these directions by the Authorized Officer (IGP), without obtaining prior approval of the competent authority, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State and for maintaining public order.”

“Therefore, I hereby confirm order No. 1063(TSTS) of 2023 dated December 23, 2023, under endorsement No. JZ/CS/Snap-down/2023 dated December 23, 2023 issued by the Authorized Officer. in exercise of powers conferred under sub-rule (1) of Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017,” he said.

Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Home also confirmed retrospectively similar three orders and directions issued by the IGP, Jammu Zone to “suspend mobile data (3G/4G/5G) and limit 2G Data Service (less than 100 KBPS Speed) services in Surankote and Bufliaz area of district Poonch of Jammu province with effect from December 22, 2023 (10 pm) to December 23,2023 (8 pm)”; to “suspend mobile data (2G/3G/4G/5G) services in the Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu province with effect from December 22, 2023 (11.50 pm) to December 23,2023 (11 pm)” and “to suspend the public Wi-Fi facilities completely in the Rajouri and Poonch district of Jammu province with effect from December 23, 2023 (9 am) to December 23, 2023 (11 pm).”