Meghalaya: Internet services blocked again for 48 hrs in Khasi, Jaintia & Ri Bhoi districts

By Our Reporter, TNT News | Shillong, June 16, 2018: 

The state government has yet again suspended internet and SMS services in Khasi, Jaintia and Ri Bhoi district for 48 hours, though the East Khasi Hills district administration is unaware of the reason stating that the order came from the government.

When contacted, EKH Deputy Commissioner, PS Dkhar confirmed that internet has again been blocked for 48 hours in the district while adding that the order came from the government and he is unaware of the reason.

Meanwhile, a highly placed source in the government has informed that the reason behind the internet suspension is to curtail hate comments and rumour mongering on social media platforms. "Ever since internet services was resumed, social media platforms like whatsapp and facebook are overflowing with hate comments which is very dangerous given the vulnerable situation the state is in at present," said the source.

According to a notification issued by the State Home department, the government have received reports from DGP that a serious law and order situation continues to prevail in Khasi & Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi district having potential threats to public safety.

Whereas, messaging systems like Whatsapp and social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and You Tube are likely to be used for transmission of information like pictures, videos and texts that have the potential to inflame passions and thus exacerbate the law and order situation in the entire Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi district.

In line with this, the government has suspended mobile internet services for 48 hours starting from 3 pm on June 16 in East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills.

When contacted, the commissioner and secretary i/c Home department, S Kharlyngdoh verified the order issued in this regard, the same of which is circulating in Whatsapp. When asked about the reason, Kharlyngdoh said the government is acting on reports received from the police.

Earlier today, the East Khasi Hills district police issued a notification stating that recently some people with vested interest(s) have posted provocative posts/hate messages/rumors/fake news etc in the social media which have lead to incitement of communal feelings/sense of insecurity, etc in the mind of certain sections of society.

The police has appealed to the public to desist from sending of such provocative hate posts/rumors/fake news, etc in the social media so that normalcy can be restored in Shillong city at the earliest while also appealing to the general public to desist from sharing/publicizing such posts without verifying the authenticity of the same.

Further, it is requested that moderators/administrators of various groups in social media delete such post(s), if any, posted in their groups. "Meghalaya Police is taking serious note of such post(s) and will initiate legal/criminal action against perpetrators of such provocative posts," SP (City) Steve Rynjah said.

____________________________