India citizenship bill: Internet shutdown in several cities

Demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against a new citizenship law in Mumbai, India on 19 December 2019. Photo: Reuters
Demonstrators hold placards and shout slogans during a protest against a new citizenship law in Mumbai, India on 19 December 2019. Photo: Reuters

There is an internet clampdown in several parts of India including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Section 144 has been imposed in several states.

The internet services have been shut down in seven cities of Uttar Pradesh including Lucknow.

The cities that are facing a complete internet shutdown include Lucknow, Bareilly, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Prayagraj, Sambhal, Meerut, Mau and Kanpur.

This has been done after Thursday's protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) turned violent in Lucknow and Sambhal and led to large scale destruction of public and private property.

Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against a new citizenship law, in Mumbai, India, on 19 December 2019. Photo: Reuters
Demonstrators hold placards during a protest against a new citizenship law, in Mumbai, India, on 19 December 2019. Photo: Reuters

Additional chief secretary (home) Avanish Awasthi said that the shutdown would continue till 21 December midnight. All private telecom operators have also shutdown their service after the government order.

This has been done in view of protests planned after Friday prayers in several cities.

According to a senior police official, it was found late on Thursday night that the violent protests on Thursday were being live-streamed on the social media which aggravated the situation.

"Apart from the internet, SMS and messenger services have also been blocked. We are trying to inform our customers about this," said a private telecom manager in Lucknow.

Map of India showing the main areas of protests on 19 December, related to the recently passed amendment to the citizenship law. Photo: AFP
Map of India showing the main areas of protests on 19 December, related to the recently passed amendment to the citizenship law. Photo: AFP

The shutdown is mainly going to impact the news industry, which is largely dependent on internet for news transmission.

Besides, mobile internet services have been suspended in the violence torn Mangaluru and Dakshin Kannada districts of Karnataka for 48 hours from Thursday night.

Mangaluru has seen the worst violence during the Citizenship Act protests during the pan India protests called on Thursday. Two people died in the anti-Citizenship Act protests turned violent.

The home department of Karnataka has suspended mobile internet services by service providers in Mangaluru City Commissionerate and Dakshina Kannada district for 48 hours.

In a notification, additional chief secretary to the home department, Rajneesh Goel said that internet services were being suspended on Friday and Saturday due to "possibility of fake news spreading" in Mangaluru and that it was a preventive measure to ensure peace.

Police officers wield sticks against demonstrators during a protest against a new citizenship law, in Lucknow, India, on 19 December 2019. Photo: Reuters
Police officers wield sticks against demonstrators during a protest against a new citizenship law, in Lucknow, India, on 19 December 2019. Photo: Reuters

"Reports on the ground suggested arson and vandalism that could lead to a serious law and order situation. Social media platforms can be used to spread rumours and pictures, videos and text have potential of inflaming passions," according to the notification.

The internet shutdown is being imposed as per section 5(2) of the Indian Telegraph Act and read with Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules 2017. The shutdown began from 10:00pm on 19 December and will last for 48 hours.