On December 5, the Home Commissioner of Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha, issues an order to ban the use of mobile internet services in the district of Mon with immediate effect till further notice.
Cause of the prohibition:
The prohibition was implemented in order to control the law and order situation in the area after 13 civilians were killed in a firing incident in Tiru/Oting village area under Tizit and Naginimora sub-divisions.
Statement by the Commissioner:
The Commissioner stated that “Mobile internet/data services/ bulk SMS of all providers in the entire area of Mon district prohibited with immediate effect until further notice.”
Here’s the notification
About the notification:
The notice by the Home Commissioner reads, “Short message service (SMS), WhatsApp, Facebook, and other social media platforms could be used for spreading of rumors, fake news, and for circulating inflammatory texts, pictures, videos, etc. which may inflame passions and thus exacerbate the law and order situation.”
“Now, therefore, in order to prevent the misuse of the abovementioned media from whipping up tension in the district, and further in order to prevent a breach of the public peace and tranquility and for maintaining law and order; I, Abhijit Sinha, Home Commissioner, Nagaland, hereby promulgate this notification under section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 to prohibit the Mobile Internet/Data service/bulk SMS of all the service providers in the entire area of the district with immediate effect till further orders. Any violation of this promulgation shall be punishable under section 188 CrPC, and also under the relevant sections of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885,” the notification stated further.