Cellular disruptions likely to affect banking services in north Kashmir

Senior officials of State Bank of India told that the disruption in the cellular services in north Kashmir is likely to affect the banking services and operations in the coming days in

With the disruption in the cellular services owing to threats by unknown gunmen in north Kashmir, the banking operations/services in district Baramulla and adjoining areas are likely to be affected in the coming days.

Senior officials of State Bank of India told that the disruption in the cellular services in north Kashmir is likely to affect the banking services and operations in the coming days in the region.

“Banks have shifted from VSAT technology to using services of cellular companies and with most of the financial institutions depending on internet services to conduct banking operations, the disruption of services would render banks defunct in the areas were telecom operations have been suspended,” he said.

JK Bank, state’s primary bank, has also informed its customers in the affected areas that banking services at its branches there would likely remain affected in the coming days.

Four attacks in quick succession against telecom employees and those who have rented out space for mobile phone towers have led to disruption of communication system in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district with Sopore and Pattan areas being the worst hit.

Reports said that Baramulla, Sheeri, Pattan, Rafiabad and scores of other areas have no connectivity since Wednesday evening.

The disruption of cellular services would also affect the working of ATM booths where no transactions could be conducted due to non-connectivity of internet,” the bank officials said.

In Baramulla and other major markets in the district including Pattan, Sheeri, Rafiabad and some other areas showrooms and shops of people associated with telecom sector remained closed on Thursday.

In Baramulla district police have issued advisory. They have asked landlords of towers, Sarpanchs, Panchs and other political activist to be more cautious.

The official said that there are over 200 towers in Baramulla district.

Pertinently two people have been killed in the last six days as unknown gunmen carried out four attacks since Saturday last mainly targeting those associated with telecom sector.

In a series of such attacks since last Saturday, a grenade was hurled at a residence where a mobile transmission tower was installed, but it failed to explode. Gunmen on Monday shot dead an employee of BSNL franchisee and injured two others in Sopore town.

The father of a sarpanch, who had a mobile transmission tower installed in his residential compound, was Tuesday shot dead by gunmen in Sopore town. Another person, who has mobile transmission towers installed in his residential compound, was injured when gunmen fired upon him on Wednesday in north Kashmir’s Pattan area.

Several separatist and militant outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul-Mujahideen, have condemned the attacks.