Terror struck the heart of Srinagar today with grenades being thrown at an Aircel showroom and a Vodafone tower in an attempt to disrupt public communications.
In May, more than 50 communication towers were shut down in the Sopore area of Northern Kashmir, just 50 km away, after a string of attacks and threats by terrorists. A man working at a mobile phone shop had been shot dead along with another who had a cell phone tower installed on his property.
Officials have said that terrorists want to prevent people from sharing intelligence with security agencies involved in counter-insurgency efforts in the Kashmir Valley.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today
The new coalition government of the BJP and Mufti Mohammed Sayeed took over in February.
30 km away from Srinagar, in Pulama, in what is being seen as a throwback to the period of militancy that seared the region, posters have appeared warning beauty parlours to shut down within 24 hours, and ordering schools to ensure that girls cover their heads with the hijab. The posters carry the name of the Hizbul Mujahideen.
In May, a previously unknown terrorist group called Lashkar-e-Islam warned people working for or with telecoms companies to stop, saying that cell phone services were being used to target members of the group. Posters had appeared in the Sopore area, demanding phone companies shut down their operations.
“We also warn shopkeepers who recharge cell phones to stop it. If not, they will be killed,” read one poster.