Internet suspended in parts of Birbhum’s Sainthia in Bengal till March 17

Internet and voice-over-Internet telephony services have been suspended in at least five Gram Panchayat areas of Sainthia town in West Bengal’s Birbhum district to prevent the spread of rumours and unlawful activities, officials said on Friday.

The shutdown is in effect from March 14 (Friday) to March 17 (Monday).

The prohibitory order, issued by the Principal Secretary, Home and Hill Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal on March 14, suspending internet and call services, cited concerns over the potential spreading of “rumours for unlawful activities.”