Mobile internet and voice calls have been suspended in Srinagar city, except on BSNL postpaid SIM cards, as a precautionary measure, reports the Indian Express. The suspension was ordered following an encounter with militants in Srinagar's Nawakadal area, which had begun last night, per the report. The Jammu & Kashmir Police confirmed that fire was exchanged last night, and that the operation continued until morning. We were unable to immediately reach officials in the Jammu & Kashmir Home Department — which issues the internet shutdown orders — for details. https://twitter.com/AzaanJavaid/status/1262515614565847040 https://twitter.com/AzaanJavaid/status/1262525011899736064 Mobile internet services in Jammu & Kashmir have been restricted to 2G since March 2020. Before that, the territory had been under a seven-month communications blackout, which was lifted in January after the Supreme Court's intervention. A new petition in the Supreme Court, filed by Foundation for Media Professionals and others, did not result in restoration of 4G services, despite the pandemic. A "special committee" led by the Union Home Secretary, formed on orders of the Supreme Court, will now examine the issues raised by petitioners and if alternatives suggested by them are viable. Read more about that here. Internet has been suspended multiple times during COVID-19 lockdown The administration has suspended even 2G mobile internet multiple times in different parts of the territory. So far, the territory has spent the entire 56-day lockdown — which has brought widespread disruption of lives — on 2G internet. Jammu & Kashmir has 1,289 cases of COVID-19 so far, with 88% of the cases being from the…
