We missed this earlier. Both SMS and internet/data services were suspended in Nagaland from the 30th of January, which were restored only earlier this week on the 20th of February after being blocked for 20 days, reports Nagaland Page. The block was initiated to prevent the spread of violence in the state. Typically bans such as this are enforced under Section 144 of the CrPC (Criminal Procedure Code) which allows local law administration to ban unlawful assembly and justify short bans on Internet services. The internet ban in the Kashmir Valley probably lasted the longest - for about 6 months from July to January, although mobile internet services on postpaid were restored a little earlier in November 2016. Note that mobile and internet services in Nagaland were blocked in 2015 as well, to stop the circulation of videos and images of the lynching of Syed Sarif. However, this block lasted only around 48 hours, unlike the current one which went on for 20 days. Meanwhile, mobile Internet services were also cut off in Rohtak, Haryana following intense protests by the jat community. This is the 19th incident where mobile Internet services were cut since September 2015. The number of Internet blocks has increased dramatically with the Supreme Court’s ruling which upheld the districts and states’ right to ban mobile Internet services for maintaining law and order in February last year. This includes: - February 19, 2017: Rohtak, Haryana/ ongoing (link) - January 30, 2017: Nagaland/ 20 days - October 12,…
