Mobile internet and bulk SMS services were restored on the afternoon of December 5 in the Mon district of Nagaland after over 12 hours of shutdown, amidst violence in the area. The shutdown was enforced keeping in view firing incidents in the Tiru/Oting villages leading to a grave law and order situation, as per a Nagaland government notice that has been viewed by MediaNama. Violence broke out between villagers and Indian security forces after the latter allegedly shot a group of civilians mistaking them to be insurgents, according to a report by India Today. The firing incident resulted in the deaths of 15 people, including a soldier, the report added. India has often topped the list of internet shutdowns globally with a 2020 AccessNow report finding that 109 out of 155 net shutdowns worldwide, took place in the country. Access to the internet was recognised as a medium to exercise a citizen's fundamental right by the Supreme Court of India in a judgement delivered last year, asking that restrictions be considered as an extraordinary measure. Over 12 years of work to keep the Internet open, fair, competitive, and global. Support MediaNama's journalism by subscribing here. Details of the Nagaland internet shutdown The order was passed late at night on December 4 and revoked at around 2:30 PM on December 5, Abhijit Sinha the State's Principal Home Secretary told MediaNama. It was issued invoking Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 which lays down provisions for government agencies to intercept…
