Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir were fully restored on Monday morning three days after the state government ordered the termination of data services fearing trouble during Eid-ul-Azha.

While landline broadband services in the state resumed at 8 PM yesterday, mobile data services were restored at 10 AM today.

“The ban on Internet has been revoked in the state and all service providers have been asked to resume their data services,” a police officer said here.

The ban was to remain effective till 10 PM on Saturday. However, it was extended first till 2 PM on Sunday and then till 8 PM yesterday in case of landline broadband and 10 AM on Monday in case of mobile Internet.

The measure was taken because of apprehension of communal tension in the backdrop of the High Court directive for implementation of an old law that bans slaughter and selling of beef.

The step by the authorities was aimed at thwarting the designs of elements who may violate the court order and, as a mark of protest, post the pictures or videos on social media that may spark communal tension.

The state government’s move was widely criticised by opposition parties.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said, “The irony of listening to Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi lecturing about connected digital India while we are totally disconnected.”

“The PDP-BJP regime is pushing people of the state to the wall,” he said.

Omar said Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was living up to his promise of making the state like Gujarat.

“He had promised to make the state like Gujarat. Now, I guess, we are competing with Gujarat as to who bans the Internet more,” he said.