Morung Express News Dimapur/Kohima | February 9 Banking services across Nagaland state have been severely hit as a result of the block on mobile internet and SMS services, a move initiated by the State Government, following the recent violence in the state. Bank officials informed that both the banks as well as their customers have faced several hardships over the past week due to the data and SMS block. Bank officials, who asked to remain anonymous, informed that customers have not been getting SMS notifications for transactions in their accounts. This, they informed, has prevented customers from either detecting or reporting any faults in their transaction details. Moreover, online transactions have completely stopped in the state, informed one high ranking bank official. He stated that since online transactions are a three layered process, one of which requires customers to avail one time passwords through SMS, customers have not been able to use the facility. It was also informed that admissions for certain schools have been obstructed as banks had provided these schools with online portals for their admission purpose. The mobile internet ban has created obstacles for these schools to complete their admission process. Bank officials have also informed that services, particularly in remote areas of the state, have taken a major hit. They stated that daily tasks, which are usually intimated through SMS or online messaging services, are not reaching bank employees in these regions. BAN asks for lifting ban on networking facilities The Business Association of Nagas (BAN), in a similar vein, today stated that the business community is facing hardship due to the data and SMS block. In a press note, the BAN asked the concerned authority to lift the ban in order to allow the business community to function smoothly. The hardest hit are local entrepreneurs and small businesses that rely on wireless POS transactions, and for their business networking, it informed. The BAN also informed all the office bearers and executive members that the 19th executive council meeting will be held on February 13 at 2:30pm. It requested all to attend without fail. The venue will be at the Treasurer Mongkum Jamir’s Residence at Sector A, Lane-3, Aoyimti Village Dimapur. Radio sales go up in Kohima Meanwhile, the pursuit for news has gone to a whole new level in Kohima with the shutdown of mobile internet and messaging services. It has been reported that radio sales have gone up in Kohima in the last week. Owners of electronic shops in Kohima mentioned that at least four or five radios are sold in a day. “Before there were not much sales, but since the shutting down of mobile networks, people are coming to buy radios,” informed a shopkeeper in Kohima town who mentioned that people from both urban areas and villages have come to buy radios. The price of a radio in Kohima town ranges from Rs. 500 to Rs. 900. “We are able to sell three to four radios a day. On a good day, the sale goes up to more than six,” informed another shopkeeper. A source close to the Chief Minister informed the CM himself has two radios, one in his private sitting room and the other in the kitchen.
