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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