M A I N   N E W S

Four-yr ban on SMS lifted in J&K
Azhar Qadri

Srinagar, May 20
A four-year ban which barred short messaging service (SMS) on prepaid mobile phones in Jammu and Kashmir has been lifted today with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ordering its immediate revocation.

An official spokesman said the restriction on SMSes had been ended on the instructions of the Chief Minister, who has vowed to implement "corrective measures" in coming months. "The subscribers of prepaid mobile phones had urged the Chief Minister to revoke the ban," the spokesman added.

The ban was imposed in July 2010 after a series of protests and clashes for more than six months. It was seen as a measure that security agencies wanted to implement. The ban on SMSes of post-paid connections was, however, revoked in December 2010. The ban had outlived its utility with the advent of more advanced Internet-based messaging applications.