The state government of Arunachal Pradesh has suspended mobile internet and broadband services in Itanagar from January 12 to January 14 in response to a bandh called by a political party in the state. The order, uploaded by SFLC.in's net shutdown tracker, said that the internet shutdown was ordered in response to a bandh called by The All Nyishi Youth Association in Itanagar, "to prevent occurrence of serious law and order problems during the bandh". https://twitter.com/NetShutdowns/status/1481559939793715202 Internet shutdowns have unofficially become standard operating procedure during public unrest or violence in India. State and central government bodies are increasingly relying on these shutdowns, and creating communication blackouts in conflict-ridden areas. Support MediaNama's work to keep the Internet open, fair, competitive, and global by subscribing here. Bandh was struck down by Supreme Court The order said that The All Nyishi Youth Association had declared a 36-hour bandh from January 13. However, the bandh was declared 'illegal' on the basis "of the judgement of Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in the Civil Appeal no 7728/29 of 1997 (CPI vs Bharat Kumar and others). Thus, the order said, direction was issued to suspend internet services, "including WIFI services of BSNL and all other private internet services providers" from 5 pm January 12 to 5 pm January 14. "The General Manager, BSNL and Area Managers of Airtel, VI, Jio services under the territorial jurisdiction capital, Itanagar are directed to comply with the government direction and temporarily suspend their mobile internet services including WiFi services..." —…
