Meghalaya govt banned mobile internet for 603 hrs since 2018

CM Conrad Sangma. File pic

The BJP-backed Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government has effected over 603 hours of mobile internet shutdown in the state since coming to power in 2018, the chief of a newly launched regional political party claimed.

Avner Pariat, convener and head of New Dawn, said the state has faced withdrawal of internet services five times since the current dispensation took charge. The longest was in June 2018 - 312 hours - following the clashes that broke out between two groups in Iewduh.

The state government, however, justified withdrawal of mobile internet services in areas deemed vulnerable to spread of misinformation. "Our intention is to curb misinformation over a particular incident based on inputs received from the ground. Unethical social media usage is curbed," a senior home department official said.
Pariat said it is aimed at muzzling free speech, and has caused huge loss for online businesses and disrupted classes of students.

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