Amid panic over the deadly coronavirus across Jammu and Kashmir, the people across the newly carved Union Territory have been demanding immediate restoration of high speed mobile data services.

The people were expecting the government may restore 4G services by Friday evening. But the authorities did not send any such order to the telecom companies.

A source in the telecom company told Rising Kashmir that government did not send any order for the restoration of high speed internet service but only the 2G speed was enhanced to 256 kbps.

 “We did not yet receive any order to restore 4G service. If we receive any government order we will quickly restore the service,” said a telecom engineer working in a telecom company.

In the recent review meeting, the Jammu and Kashmiradministration has extended the restrictions on high speed mobile data servicesacross the Union Territory till March 26, 2020.

During the coronavirus scare, locals, political leaders andeven Amnesty International have urged government of India for the restorationof 4G service.

The local people have also been posting their demands ondifferent social networking sites. Many local internet users have tagged thetop administrative officials of Jammu and Kashmir on Twitter in a bid to ensurethe demand will not go unheard.

 “Due to coronavirusscare, government should restore 4g in Kashmir. We need it badly to stay insideour homes,” Yawar Ahmad a student wrote on Facebook.

Similar kind of tweets and posts were shared by the peopleon different social media platforms and appealed the government to restore theservices immediately.

On Thursday Amnesty International India stated in theofficial release that the government of the Union Territory of Jammu andKashmir must restore uninterrupted 4G internet services to ensure that peoplehave access to health and safety-related information.

National Conference (NC) patron and Member ParliamentSrinagar, Dr. Farooq Abdullah who was recently released from seven-month-longdetention has written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and appealed him torestore 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir at an earliest.

In a letter under number PS/DFA/Gen/263, dated 19-03-2020,Dr. Farooq said that “As you are aware, the first case of Coronavirus has beendetected in Kashmir yesterday which has resulted in authorities locking downlarge parts of the Valley. Business and students have already been hit hard bythe shut down after 5th of August, 2019 are again suffering because of theserestrictions.”

The Private School Association Jammu and Kashmir (PSAJK)also demanded immediate restoration of services, saying that it will help inconducting online classes.