Odisha imposes internet shutdown in Bhadrak over communal tension

The Odisha government on Saturday (September 28, 2024) ordered an internet shutdown in district headquarter town of Bhadrak after noticing a surge in social media postings fueling communal tensions. The unrest began when an online inflammatory remark about a community’s prophet sparked stone-pelting by agitated crowds

“The Bhadrak district administration has expressed concerns of misuse of internet for spreading communal violence. Messaging platforms like Whatsapp, Facebook, X and other such media have the potential to inflame communal tension thereby leading to acts causing disturbance of public order in Bhadrak district,” said State Home Secretary Satyabrata Sahu in a notification issued on Saturday.

Mr. Sahu ordered, “in order to prevent the spread of such inflammatory and motivated messages to circulate in the above mentioned media to disturb the public order in whole Bhadrak district and restore peace and amity, it is decided to extend prohibition of the use and access of social media platforms like Whatsapp, Facebook, X and any other through internet and other medium of data services for 48 hours up to 2 am on September 30 in Bhadrak district.”