Internet services in the state will be suspended from March 7 to March 16. Details here

Mobile internet and broadband services will be temporarily suspended in several regions of West Bengal to prevent illegal activities. As per the state government’s order, internet services will be suspended in some blocks of Malda, Murshidabad, Uttar Dinajpur, Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Birbhum and Darjeeling districts. The services will remain suspended from March 7 to 9, March 11 to 12 and March 14 to 16 between 11:00 am and 3:15 pm.

In an official order, the Deputy Chief Secretary of West Bengal said there were intelligence reports that Internet transmission and voice over Internet telephony could be misused for unlawful activities in certain areas in the next few days.

There are no restrictions on voice calls, SMS and newspapers, the order said.

“In order to prevent obstruction, nuisance or injury to any person lawfully engaged in the business or to prevent danger to life, health or safety of any person, disturbance of public peace, riot or brawl, by an order under section 144 Cr.PC and in accordance with sub-rule 2(1) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services (Public Emergency or Public Service) Rules, 2017 and sub-rule 2(A) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services (Amendment) Rules, 2020, it is promulgated that: Any data related message or class of message to or from any person or class of persons relating to any specified subject, transmitted for transmission by or sent or received by any telegraph within the purview of the India Telegraph Act, 1885 shall, in the interest of maintenance of public order and for preventing incitement to the commission of any offence, be temporarily withheld from transmission within the jurisdiction of the Blocks/Police Stations listed in the Schedule and duly certified by me,” the order said.