What’s the news: Two simultaneous incidents of mobile internet service suspensions were reported in Manipur and Kashmir on August 7. While a five-day internet shutdown was announced in Manipur in face of tribal protests, Kashmir’s Srinagar authorities suspended internet during Muharram. Why it matters: Access Now, a digital rights advocacy group, said that India recorded the highest number of internet shutdowns for four consecutive years by 2021. While government authorities state that such measures regain public order, the suspension of internet services cuts off people’s contact to the rest of the world. This makes it difficult for affected citizens to gain relief and for the media to understand the situation on the ground. Srinagar loses internet during Muharram: On the same day that Manipur authorities declared internet suspension, the Jammu and Kashmir government also suspended mobile internet services in Lal Chowk and other parts of state capital Srinagar. Earlier, the city traffic police announced that the Muharram-ul-Harram procession would be disallowed as per orders from the District Magistrate. People were warned of “multiple cut-offs” across the city to prevent people’s movement towards the City Centre. Particularly, the officials barred movement on M.A. Road and R.R. Road except in case of medical emergencies. Moreover, while the traffic advisory circular did not mention internet shutdowns, multiple netizen accounts and news reports talked about how mobile internet services were suspended. https://twitter.com/AsgarSehrish/status/1556162431549935617 Despite these restrictions, people continued to move about in the city on Sunday as per a video shared by city police on…
