BSNL Stops sale of post-paid SIMs on security grounds

The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited’s (BSNL) Jammu Customer Service Centre (CSC) at Bahu Plaza has stopped issuing new post-paid SIM cards from today after it was directed by the government to do so on security grounds.
Sources said the Jammu CSC had been witnessing a heavy rush of customers from the Valley to get new post-paid SIM cards for the past few days. However, keeping in mind the unrest, the BSNL decided to immediately stop the sale of new post-paid SIM cards, fearing that it might create more security-related problems.
Pertinently, all cellular services, except the BSNL, were suspended on July 14 after the protests broke out on July 9 following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani along with two others in an encounter with security forces at Kokernag in Anantnag.
The sources said the police had asked the BSNL in Kashmir not to issue any fresh SIM cards to the people on security grounds. Those having SIM cards of private cellular companies were blocked by the authorities due to the turmoil in Valley.
“There had been a rush of customers at the CSC for getting new post-paid SIM cards for the past few days. These were issued to customers from the Valley after proper verification of their documents,” the sources said.
“When the sale of new post-paid SIM cards was stopped in the Kashmir valley after a police directive, their sale at the Jammu CSC gave us a ray of hope to connect with our loved ones. But now that too is gone,” said Sohail, a customer.
Gautam Lal, General Manager Telecom District (GMTD), told The Tribune, “the sale of new post-paid SIM cards has been stopped with an immediate effect due to security reasons.” He added that such SIM cards will be issued to senior government officers only.