SRINAGAR: Media services professionals and students continued to suffer in the Kashmir valley, where the internet service remained suspended for the third day today.
Students alleged that they could not apply online for admission in professional colleges due to suspension of internet.
Similarly, unemployed youths also alleged that they could apply online for different posts in the country.
However, officials said the step was taken to prevent rumours in the valley as in the past it was witnessed that rumour mongers used internet and SMS.
To curb the rumours after Kishtwar incident, the authorities snapped internet service of different cellular companies including 3G network of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Airtel and Reliance since Saturday morning, badly affecting media, students, doctors and other professions in the Valley.
However, the broadband service of BSNL through landlines phones was working normally, though with very less speed.
This is the fourth time that the internet service was stopped in the Valley during 2013.
The internet service remained suspended for about a week after the Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hanged in Delhi’s Tihar jail on February 9. The service remained suspended in March after the death of two youths in alleged army firing in Baramulla. The Internet services were snapped again for the third time after killings in Gool Ramban.
The SMS on all pre-paid mobile phones of all companies remained suspended since 2010, when more than 120 people, mostly youths, were killed in alleged firing by the security forces and police personnel during demonstrations.
Local news channels on cable also remained banned since 2010 and government officials have been directed not to participate in any discussion on cable channel.