Army wants Valley to touch base before switching on mobiles

But the Army says it has only issued an appeal to prevent misuse by militants, ever since cellular services were started a year ago. ‘‘There’s no force. We have made an appeal to people to register mobiles and their names with the Army,’’ says Army spokesman, Col V K Batra.

‘‘In the past, militants have forcibly snatched mobiles from the civilians and returned them after using for some days. So we have appealed to them to register, so that we can keep track if militants use them,’’ he says.

Citing an example from Uri, where Army was able to extinguish a fire in time, Col Batra says, ‘‘It also helps us to locate the caller, if he needs some help.’’

Particularly worried by the new Army ‘‘order’’ are some residents of the area who had acquired mobile connections in the name of their relatives and friends. Some of them are even planning to surrender their connections.