Doda/Jammu, Sept 14: Broadband internet services were restored in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district on Sunday as normalcy gradually returned after a week-long clampdown following the detention of AAP MLA and J-K unit president Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
Malik was taken into custody on September 8 for allegedly disturbing public order, triggering violent protests. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders and suspended both mobile and broadband internet services to contain the situation.
Officials said restrictions began easing on Saturday after senior police and civil administration officers — including DIG Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range Shridhar Patil, Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh, and SSP Sandeep Kumar Mehta — held a meeting with civil society members, traders, and transporters. The administration assured that services would be restored in phases after reviewing the ground situation.
Shops reopened and markets saw activity on Sunday, while additional forces deployed in sensitive areas were withdrawn. Public transport also resumed partially, officials confirmed. Schools are expected to reopen in the coming days as restrictions are gradually lifted.
Civil society representatives, including Beopar Mandal and the Transport Association, pledged their cooperation to the district administration in maintaining peace. They requested phased lifting of Section 163 BNSS restrictions, stressing the urgent need to restore internet, transport, and education services to ease the hardships of the public, who are already reeling from losses caused by recent flood-like conditions.
The DIG praised the role of locals in supporting peace efforts, but urged business leaders to ensure CCTV cameras remain functional and to help authorities keep vigil against miscreants. He also asked transporters, shopkeepers, and workers to remain alert to troublemakers.
Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh assured that essential supply issues would be addressed within 24 hours and pledged continued coordination with the public to bring the district back to normalcy.
