JK government lifts SMS ban on post-paid phones

The ban on SMS services on post-paid mobile phones in Jammu and Kashmir was lifted by the authorities in Srinagar on Wednesday evening.
 
The ban on the SMS services had been imposed in the wake of the over five-month long unrest that started on June 11 after a 17-year old schoolboy, Tufail Ahmad Mattoo, was killed when he was hit by a teargas shell fired by the police.
 
The unrest claimed 112 lives and left hundreds others wounded.
 
The ban had been imposed by the authorities after separatist groups used the service to publicise their protest calendars.
 
In a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Jammu, a decision was taken to revoke the ban on SMS services in Jammu and Kashmir on all post-paid connections after reviewing the overall security situation in the state. But the ban on post paid bulk messages will continue, an official spokesman said.

BSNL and other telecom companies operating in Jammu and Kashmir have been advised to start the service as soon as possible, the spokesman said.

State Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda and Principal Secretary of state Home Ministry B R Sharma attended the meeting.