Hours after social media and messaging platforms were restored following a month-long ban, mobile Internet services were snapped in Jammu and Kashmir after militant Sabzar Bhat was killed in an encounter, the Hindustan Times reports. The government has not released a statement on why mobile Internet was shut down again in the state nor has it mentioned how long services will be cut, as indicated by this Times of India report. The publication added that stone pelters were sending voice notes on WhatsApp to spread the message after the encounter. Mobile Internet was cut in Jammu and Kashmir for more than six months after security forces killed Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Interestingly, Sabzar Bhat was named Wani's successor. Kashmir has had the highest number of Internet shutdowns – as many as 31 shutdowns in 2016, and three so far in 2017. Earlier this month, two United Nations human rights experts had called on India to restore access to the Internet and social media networks in Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government banned 22 social media sites/apps on 17th of April 2017, specifically: Facebook, Whatsapp, Twitter, YouTube (upload), Vine, Google+, QQ, WeChat, Qzone, Tumblr, Skype, Viber, Line, Snapchat, Pinterest, Telegram, Reddit, Snapfish, Xanga, Buzznet, Flickr and Baidu -- these services might have been lifted by the government from this website, as we pointed out earlier. Typically, mobile internet bans 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. Section 144 of the CrPC can usually…
