A spokesman for Pakistan’s Kashmir government said there were no reports of cell towers destroyed during the protests that rocked the region in May 2024, contrary to Facebook and X posts purporting to show photos of the damaged structures. The images – taken before the protests – show telephone towers attacked in 2022 and 2023.
“Kashmiris are demolishing mobile phone towers now,” read one publish on social media platform X who shared the photos on May 12, 2024.
“Kashmiris say that when we can’t get internet service in this difficult time, we don’t even need those poles of yours.”
Photos show a collapsed telephone tower and a charred structure with a hole in the roof.
Four people were killed in Pakistan-administered Kashmir – a semi-autonomous region with its own regional government – after paramilitary troops came into conflict with protesters demonstrating against the rising cost of living.
The Internet was largely shut down during the demonstrations, which ended on May 14 after organizers accepted a government offer of financial aid.
The Himalayan region is divided between India and Pakistan, who claim it in full.