PM visit: Security measures disrupt mobile services in Srinagar

Mobile services across Kashmir valley today were disrupted in view of prime minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to the valley with service providers citing security concerns as the reason.

Almost all the mobile service providers including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited blocked the cellular service at around 11.30am today, 15 minutes prior to the arrival of the PM in Srinagar, official sources said.

"In addition to communication, mobile phones can be used as devices to trigger explosions also. So, we blocked the service at 11.30am. The jam would continue till the PM leaves," general manager BSNL, Mahesh Shukla told PTI.

Singh, who is visiting Kashmir after a gap of seven months, will hold one-to-one talks with chief minister Omar Abdullah and review the progress of the recommendations made during the two sessions of the Round Table Conference chaired by him.

The visit comes against the backdrop of the "quiet diplomacy", initiated by Union home minister P Chidambaram with separatist leaders, failing to make any headway as the Hurriyat has refused to talk.

Both factions of Hurriyat turned down the offer of talks saying "talks and butchering of youth cannot go together".

"How can we hold talks when youths are being butchered. Talks and killing of youths cannot go together," moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.