Jammu and Kashmir government lifts ban on social media

ANI

SrinagarUpdated: May 27, 2017, 05:34 AM IST

The ban had evoked widespread condemnation within the state and beyond. (Representative image) Photograph:(Getty)

Story highlights

Access to 22 websites and applications, including Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp, were blocked on April 17||The ban came after reports said these sites were being "misused by anti-national and anti-social elements to create law and order disturbances" in Kashmir

The social media sites and applications including Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter were on Friday restored in Kashmir Valley.

J&K govt lifts ban on social networking sites; govt had banned 22 social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp & Twitter till May 26
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 27, 2017

The Indian government on April 17 blocked access to 22 websites and applications, including Whatsapp, Facebook and Twitter, as well as 3G and 4G data services in the restive part of the northern state.

The ban came in the wake of reports that these social networking sites were being "misused by anti-national and anti-social elements to create law and order disturbances" in Kashmir.

The ban had evoked widespread condemnation within the state and beyond.

On May 11, United Nations experts had even urged the Indian government to withdraw the ban on Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir and "reinstate" freedom of expression.

(ANI)