Mobile internet services were snapped for the second time across Kashmir this month, Greater Kashmir reports. According to reports, mobile Internet services could remain suspended for next four days, though there was no immediate official confirmation. Internet services were cut following student protests across universities and colleges. The incident was sparked as some students in Pulwama Degree College were beaten by government forces, the publication added. Note that 2G services were spared from the shutdown. Earlier on April 8, both broadband and mobile Internet services were suspended on the eve of the by-polls to the Srinagar parliamentary seat. Mobile Internet has been cut in Kashmir has been multiple times. The longest internet shutdown was for about 6 months from July to January, although mobile internet services on postpaid were restored a little earlier in November 2016. Last month, 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. 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 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. Do internet shutdowns help? In December…
