Will ban on pre-paid mobile connections further alienate Kashmiris?
Rebel violence in Indian Kashmir has fallen to its lowest level since an insurgency began nearly two decades ago.
But the central government has banned pre-paid mobile connections in the strife-torn state, leaving nearly three million subscribers disconnected over security concerns.
The ban, which comes days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offered fresh talks with Kashmiris, has annoyed local residents while troops deployed in the state are also distressed over getting disconnected from their families.
The ban also put around 20,000 youths in danger of finding themselves without a job.
Is the ban justified at a time when rebel violence is at its lowest and New Delhi is trying to win the hearts and minds of Kashmiris?
The ban follows reports that neither vendors nor service providers carry out thorough identity checks on buyers when issuing a connection.
Until five years ago, intelligence officials resisted attempts by the central government to lift a ban on mobile phone services in the region, fearing they could aid militants in planning attacks.
The iPhone 3G dilemma: To buy or not to buy?
Well, if you use your mobile phone just to make calls, send text messages or click photographs — the iPhone 3G is not for you.But in case you are a tech freak who loves tinkering with gadgets, this Apple smartphone might be your dream come true.
Downloadable GPS, games, AIM, Facebook on the go and of course 24-hour access to the iTunes store are just some of its pluses, but at 30,000 rupees (give or take a few hundred) for the 8GB model, the iPhone certainly doesn’t come cheap.
Slight problem though. Added applications are great on a phone that provides basic features like message and business card forwarding and video recording.
Unfortunately, these very basic features are not available on Steve Jobs’ latest offering as default.
Chayan Hazra, 30, is one iPhone owner who says he is willing to switch brands if something better comes up.
“If Nokia comes up with a phone that allows you to download applications and has a touch screen I will switch to it in a heartbeat because I know it will have all the basic features that I have become accustomed to in addition to these cool new apps,” he said.
Hazra fits right into mobile service provider Airtel’s category of “Achievers – young working, corporate professionals,” a target segment for the iPhone.
Ganesh
you should be made security consultant for chidambaram… brilliant idea ma. why I never thought about it before. keep posting mate.