Internet and voice-over-Internet telephony services have been suspended in five Gram Panchayat areas of Sainthia town in West Bengal’s Birbhum district to curb the spread of rumours and prevent unlawful activities, officials confirmed on Friday.
The suspension took effect from March 14 and will remain in place until 8 AM on March 17.
The prohibitory order, issued by the Principal Secretary of the Home and Hill Affairs Department of the West Bengal government on March 14, cited concerns over the potential misuse of internet services for spreading misinformation and inciting unrest.
Meanwhile, police forces have been deployed in the affected areas following reports of a stone-pelting incident in Birbhum, further emphasizing the need for heightened security.
“Any data-related message or class of messages transmitted through any telecommunication service or network, as defined under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, shall temporarily not be transmitted to maintain public order and prevent incitement to any unlawful activities,” the order stated.
However, the order clarified that voice calls and SMS services would remain unaffected. It also noted that there were no restrictions placed on newspapers, ensuring that communication and dissemination of information would continue.
The internet suspension order applies to the areas of Sainthia, Hatora Gram Panchayat (GP), Mathpalsa GP, Harisara GP, Dariyapur GP, and Fulur GP.
“Given recent events, there is a concern that internet transmissions and voice-over-Internet telephony could be misused to spread rumours and incite unlawful activities in the geographical area of Sainthia town and its surrounding Gram Panchayats. Therefore, these services have been temporarily shut down to maintain peace and public order,” the order added.
The restrictions will remain in force until the morning of March 17, with authorities closely monitoring the situation to prevent any escalation.
