80 Kashmir companies get Internet after signing bond

The informal bond titled ‘Undertaking for usage of Internet’ asks subscribers to promise to share all the contents and infrastructure of the Internet as and when required by the security The Jammu and Kashmir administration has restored the Internetconnections of more than 80 subscribers who have signed a bond agreeing to use the services strictly for business purposes.

The informal bond titled ‘Undertaking for usage of Internet’ asks subscribers to promise to share all the contents and infrastructure of the Internet as and when required by the security agencies.

The bond directs users not to upload encrypted files containing any sort of video or photographs. “For the allowed IP, there will be no social networking, proxies, VPNs and Wi-Fi and that all the USB ports will be disabled on the network,” reads the bond.

A senior police official told ET on condition of anonymity, “This is just an assurance we need so that there is no wrong use of the Internet. Connections of some call centers, corporate offices and tourism related entities whose work is completely dependent on the Internet have been restored as well.” The bond mentions that the companies will be held responsible for any kind of breach and misuse of the Internet.

In the wake of the abrogation of special status of J&K and downgrading of the state into two Union territories, the authorities blocked the Internet, landline and mobile communication services. While the landlines and post-paid connections were restored in October, the ban on the Internet and prepaid mobile phones continues.