SHILLONG: To check the flow of information prior to the GHADC polls, the State Government has allegedly influenced the internet providers to block the connections thereby affecting the people who were depending on cell phones and other devices including computers, laptops, tablets and ipads in the entire Garo Hills region.
The police were earlier keeping a watch on the posts in the social networking sites which heavily depended on internet service.
The fear of the police was that the social networking sites can be used by anti national elements to influence the people to abstain from voting at a time when the mainstream media is barred from publishing news related to bandh and agitation.
A few Tura residents informed over phone on Sunday night that the entire internet connection was disabled after 9 pm.
Attempts to contact West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi failed as he did not return the calls.
However, a senior police official tactically avoided the question and said, “You can ask the Home Secretary or the Home Minister.”
A few residents from Tura said the move of the Government to resort to censorship by blocking the internet brought to mind the days of Emergency when Congress Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was in power.
