We missed this earlier Mobile Internet services were cut off for more than 24 hours in Udaipur, Rajasthan last week as communal tensions flared up in the city following the hacking of a Muslim migrant worker from West Bengal, reports Press Trust of India. Internet shutdown was imposed after a mob gathered in support of Shambulal Regar who was in police custody for the killing. Regar had posted a video of the killing along with inflammatory and communal comments. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was imposed on the city. Note that the report quoted Udaipur superintendent Rajendra Prasad. Earlier this year, the government issued guidelines for the enforcement of internet shutdowns in the country. In states, the Secretary to the State Government in-charge of the Home Department can issue an order. Right now, it is unclear where the order for Internet shutdown came from. Historically, mobile Internet bans are enforced under the Section 144 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) where it targets unlawful assembly. Earlier, Section 144 of the CrPC was usually be invoked by a district magistrate or the collector. Meanwhile, report added that a person was arrested for posting on social media for organizing a rally in favour of Regar. Increase in number of shutdowns The number of Internet blocks has also 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 2016. The Software Freedom Law Center, India (SFLC) has counted at least 60 internet…
