Grenades Target Vodafone Tower, Aircel Showroom in Srinagar

Mangalore Today News Network

Srinagar, July 24, 2015:  Telecom services have been targeted by militants in Srinagar with grenades being thrown at an Aircel showroom and a Vodafone tower in an attempt to disrupt public communications.

 

In May, more than 50 communications towers were shut down in the Sopore area of Northern Kashmir after a string of attacks and threats by terrorists. A man working at a mobile phone shop had been shot dead along with another who had a cell phone tower installed on his property.

At that time, a previously unknown terrorist group called Lashkar-e-Islam warned people working for or with telecoms companies to stop, saying that cell phone services were being used to target members of the group. Posters had appeared in the Sopore area, demanding phone companies shut down their operations.

"We warn all the people associated with the telecom companies to stop working for them and tower site owners to dismantle the towers. We also warn shopkeepers who recharge cell phones to stop it. If not, they will be killed," read one poster.

Officials have said that terrorists want to prevent people from sharing intelligence with security agencies involved in counter-insurgency efforts in the Kashmir Valley.

 

Courtesy: NDTV