Guwahati: Mobile Internet and broadband services would be temporarily suspended in many West Bengal regions to avoid illegal activities.
According to a state government directive, Internet services would be suspended in a few blocks of Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum, and Darjeeling districts. During the weeks of March 7-9, March 11-12, and March 14-16, services will be discontinued from 11 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
West Bengal’s Additional Chief Secretary said in an official order that intelligence reports have been received that internet transmissions and Voice over Internet Telephony could be exploited for illegal operations in specific locations in the coming days.
The order specified that there will be no restrictions on voice calls, SMS, or newspapers.
“In order to prevent obstruction, annoyance or injury to any person lawfully employed, or danger to human life, health or safety, or a disturbance of the public tranquillity, or a riot or an affray, through an order under Sec. 144 Cr.P.C. and in compliance of sub-rule 2(1) of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Service) Rules, 2017 and sub-rule 2(A) of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Amendment) Rules, 2020 it is promulgated that: Any data related message or class of messages to or from any person or class of persons relating to any particular subject brought for transmission by or transmitted or received by any telegraph within the ambit of the India Telegraph Act, 1885, shall temporarily not be transmitted in the interest of maintaining public order and preventing incitement to the commission of any offence within the jurisdiction of the Block/Police Stations listed in the Annexure and duly authenticated by me,” according to the order.