bulk sms service
Mobile Internet
was cut off in Mandsaur, Ratlam and Neemuch districts in Madhya Pradesh as
farmer strikes turned violent, reports the Press Trust of India. The
publication added that five people were killed. Mandsaur and Ratlam’s
district collector said that section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal
Procedure Code) was imposed to check the spread of rumours.
Section 144 of
the CrPC allows local law administration to ban unlawful assembly and justify
short bans on Internet
services. Section 144 of the CrPC can usually be invoked by a district
magistrate or the collector. This allows local law administration to ban
unlawful assembly and justify short bans on Internet services. Section 144 of
the CrPC can usually be invoked by a district magistrate or the collector.
The reports did not
mention how long the suspension will be in effect or whether bulk SMS services would be
cut as well.
The number of
Internet blocks has increased dramatically with the Supreme Court’s ruling
which upheld the districts and states’ right to ban mobile Internet services for
maintaining law and order in February last year. The Centre for Communication
Governance At NLU Delhi counts more than 40 instances in two years where
the internet was suspended for emergencies.
In the months of
April, May and June, there have been four mobile Internet shutdowns in
different parts of the country. The latest was on May 29 in Jammu and
Kashmir after militant Sabzar Bhat was killed in an encounter.
Internet was cut for a week in this instance. Internet services were cut
twice in April. Internet services were cut on April 18 following student
protests across universities and colleges. The incident was sparked as some
students in Pulwama Degree College were beaten by government forces.
on April 8, both broadband and mobile Internet services were suspended on
the eve of the by-polls to the Srinagar parliamentary seat
Criticism from the UN
In May, two UN
Special Rapporteurs had been fairly critical of the Indian governments decision
to shut down specific social media apps, and asked for connectivity to be
restored. The statement had said that:
“The scope of these
restrictions has a significantly disproportionate impact on the fundamental rights of
everyone in Kashmir, undermining the Government’s stated aim of preventing
dissemination of information that could lead to violence”
“The internet and telecommunications bans have the character of
collective punishment, and fail to meet the standards required
under international human rights law to limit freedom of expression”, and
“Denying such access disrupts the free exchange of ideas and the ability of
individuals to connect with one another and associate peacefully on matters of
shared concern.”
Reference:
http://www.medianama.com/2017/06/223-mobile-internet-cut-madhya-pradesh/
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