Mobile internet services suspended in eastern Meghalaya over ‘serious law and order situation’

The affected districts are East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills.

Updated on: Jun 17, 2018, 13:21:28 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Concerned about the “serious law and order situation”, Meghalaya government suspended mobile internet services in six districts of the state, three days after it was resumed.

The government feels social media platforms could be used to inflame passions and thus exacerbate the law and order situation, and hence it necessitates suspension of mobile internet services till Monday afternoon. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Based on a report by the state’s director general of police (DGP) SB Singh, home commissioner and secretary S Kharlyngdoh issued a notification suspending mobile internet for 48 hours beginning 3pm on Saturday.

The affected districts are East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, Ri Bhoi, East Jaintia Hills and West Jaintia Hills.

Following a clash between two groups on May 31 in Shillong, curfew had been imposed for several days and mobile and internet services suspended in many parts of the state till June 13.

Though the situation improved and the services were resumed, the state government feels the situation on the ground continues to be ‘serious’.

As per the DGP’s report, “a serious law and order situation continues to prevail in Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Ri Bhoi district, having potential threat to public safety”.

The government feels social media platforms could be used to “inflame passions and thus exacerbate the law and order situation”, and hence it necessitates suspension of mobile internet services till Monday afternoon.

The May 31 clash, which started over a parking dispute between local drivers and residents of Punjabi Lane area in Shillong, turned into a major crisis after rumours spread on social media that a minor had been killed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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