India blocks social networks in Kashmir due to abuse videos

The authorities in India have ordered internet service providers in Kashmir to immediately shut down 22 social sites including Facebook and twitter in wake of abuse videos depicting abuse by soldiers on Kashmiris.


According to the government,the restrictions which were made on Wednesday was for the interest of maintenance of public order.However,the social networks that were ordered blocked by the government were still working up on till Thursday.


The restrictions however does not affect Broadband and 2G connectivity.
This is the first time the government has taken this drastic measure which it has halted in the past in an attempt to prevent anti-India demonstrations from being organized.


A Director for  Indian Advocacy Group and Center for Internet and Society says:
''It not only violates the Indian constitution but also violates international laws,
it is a blow to freedom of speech and legally unprecedented in India.''

The video that really sparked outrage was that of a boy tied in front of an army jeep and was driven from village to village.

Farooq Ahmed Dar was the boy tied in front an army jeep  as they patrolled the community on voting day.The video shows a soldier speaking in Hindi over a loud speaker saying:

''Stone throwers will meet a similar fate.''

Speaking to the Associated Press,Farooq said,''When they were driving me around,they were saying,'We will shoot you',and were throwing stones at my head,i was told not to talk.In one of the villages,an elderly man begged for my release but they did not listen to him.''

Sadiq Waheed,a historian and former Vice Chancellor of a Kashmir University said:

''The decision in New Delhi seems to be to push Kashmir and Kashmiris to the wall,it's only to be expected the resentment is going to reach new heights.''