J-K: Mobile phones started ringing in valley again

Mobile phone services were restored in the Kashmir Valley on Friday night after remaining suspended for three days in the wake of the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo in an encounter with security forces on Wednesday.

Srinagar: After remaining suspended for three days, mobile phone services were on Friday restored in the Kashmir Valley, officials said.

According to the officials, mobile, internet and SMS services were barred in the Valley as a preventive measure following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Riyaz Naikoo in a gunfight with security forces on Wednesday.

"The review committee approved the restoration of mobile phone services across the Valley after assessing the situation closely from past two days, " a senior official from J&K home department told ETV Bharat.

The official further said, "There is a visible improvement in the situation but not conducive for SMS and internet service. The decision on the same will be taken at an appropriate time after assessing the situation again in the coming days."

The Jammu and Kashmir administration had snapped mobile internet and mobile phone services, except on BSNL postpaid, across the Valley after Naikoo was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Beighpora village in south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Wednesday.