West Bengal Govt suspends internet services in seven districts to check illegal activities

New Delhi: West Bengal government on Thursday announced the suspension of internet services for eight days in seven districts as a preventive measure to avoid unlawful activities in the areas.

Mobile internet & broadband services to be temporarily suspended in few blocks of Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum & Darjeeling districts b/w 1100-1515 hrs on 7-9 Mar, 11&12 Mar & 14-16 Mar, to prevent unlawful activities: Govt of West Bengal pic.twitter.com/8e4FfEnbmV

— ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2022

The Additional Chief Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, WB, in a statement said, “The government has received intelligence reports that unlawful activities can be carried in certain areas over internet transmissions and voice over internet telephony and hence restrictions are being imposed on the use of the internet. “The restriction will be imposed in a few blocks under the districts of Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum and Darjeeling on March 7 to 9, March 11 and 12 and on March 15 and 16 from 11:00 am to 3:15 pm,” the statement added.

No restriction is being imposed on voice calls, SMS and newspapers.