Authorities on Friday suspended the mobile internet service across Kashmir to prevent what it called rumor-mongering on braid-cutting incidents. However, the services were restored late in the evening.

A senior police official said that the internet was snapped as part of measures “to keep a check on rumors and in view of the call for protests by separatists.”

A number of videos and photographs of braid-chopping incidents in Kashmir have gone viral on social media sites during the past three weeks when almost 50 such incidents have been reported.

Mobile internet services were suspended in Kulgam and Shopian districts last week after several braid chopping incidents took place there.

According to an executive of a private mobile operator, the latest suspension of internet in Kashmir is 26th this year.