▁On ▁ 2 6 ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁the ▁state ▁government ▁directed ▁various ▁Internet ▁service ▁prov iders ▁( IS P s ) ▁to ▁block ▁access ▁to ▁ 2 2 ▁social ▁networking ▁websites , ▁saying ▁it ▁was ▁needed ▁to ▁prevent ▁spread ing ▁of ▁rum ors ▁and ▁to ▁maintain ▁law ▁and ▁order ▁in ▁the ▁state , ▁under ▁the ▁Indian ▁Te legraph ▁Act , ▁ 1 8 8 5 . ▁This ▁move ▁anger ed ▁the ▁youth ▁of ▁the ▁state , ▁and ▁they ▁res orted ▁to ▁using ▁virtual ▁private ▁networks ▁( V PN s ), ▁Internet ▁pro x ies ▁and ▁other ▁readily ▁available ▁tools ▁to ▁circum vent ▁the ▁block . ▁ ▁Re actions ▁ ▁India ▁ ▁Re actions ▁of ▁government ▁and ▁polit icians ▁On ▁ 9 ▁July , ▁Home ▁Minister ▁Raj n ath ▁Singh ▁appe aled ▁for ▁people ▁to ▁maintain ▁peace ▁and ▁calm ▁in ▁K ash mir . ▁On ▁ 1 0 ▁July , ▁the ▁state ▁government ▁appe aled ▁to ▁all ▁the ▁political ▁parties ▁including ▁the ▁separ at ists ▁for ▁help ▁in ▁rest oring ▁normal cy ▁in ▁the ▁valley . ▁Se par at ist ▁leader ▁Ge el ani ▁agreed ▁and ▁asked ▁the ▁K ash mir ▁is ▁to ▁remain ▁" dis cipl ined " ▁while ▁Far oo q ▁rid ic u led ▁the ▁appeal ▁for ▁help . ▁Chief ▁Minister ▁of ▁Jam mu ▁and ▁K ash mir ▁Me h bo oba ▁Mu ft i ▁appe aled ▁for ▁calm ▁in ▁the ▁state ▁on ▁ 1 2 ▁July . ▁Prime ▁Minister ▁Nar endra ▁Mod i ▁expressed ▁concern ▁over